In a historic achievement for Indian badminton, Lakshya Sen became the first Indian male shuttler to reach the men’s singles semi-finals at the Olympics. Sen’s thrilling quarter-final victory over Chou Tien-Chen of Chinese Taipei marked a significant milestone in his career and in Indian sports history. The match, which lasted for xx minutes, ended with a final score of 19-21, 21-15, 21-12.
This victory places Sen among the elite ranks of Indian badminton players who have made it to the Olympic semi-finals, joining the likes of Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu. Notably, Sindhu is the only Indian shuttler to have reached the final.
Sen’s journey to the semi-finals was marked by resilience and exceptional skill. Facing an experienced opponent in Chou Tien-Chen, a cancer survivor known for his tenacity, Sen showed remarkable fitness and temperament. After losing the first game 19-21, Sen fought back fiercely, securing the next two games 21-15 and 21-12.
“To fight back from a game down against an experienced campaigner like Chou Tien-Chen required excellent fitness and temperament, and that is exactly what Lakshya Sen showed today,” a commentator noted. “He maintained his composure through the long rallies, through the low ebbs, to clinch a historic win.”
With this win, Sen is now just one victory away from securing an Olympic medal. He will face the winner of the match between top seed Viktor Axelsen of Denmark and Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew in the semi-finals.
Before Lakshya Sen’s remarkable run, Kidambi Srikanth (2016) and Parupalli Kashyap (2012) had reached the quarter-finals but fell short of advancing further. Sen’s success brings renewed hope for India in badminton at the Paris Olympics.
A word of appreciation is due for Chou Tien-Chen, whose journey as a cancer survivor adds depth to his competitive spirit. He made a commendable comeback from being down 15-17 to win the first game 21-19 and battled toe-to-toe with Sen until the final stages of the match.
Lakshya Sen’s historic win marks a new chapter for Indian badminton, inspiring future generations and bringing pride to the nation. As he advances to the semi-finals, the entire country will be cheering for him, hoping to see him bring home a much-coveted Olympic medal.
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