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Badminton: Lakshya Sen Exits in Semifinals, Returns Without Medal from Paris Olympics

The atmosphere was electric at the Paris Olympics as badminton fans around the world tuned it into the much anticipated semifinal clash between Indias Lakshya Sen and Denmarks Viktor
(image credits: Outlook India)
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The atmosphere was electric at the Paris Olympics as badminton fans around the world tuned it into the much-anticipated semifinal clash between India’s Lakshya Sen and Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen.

The Paris 2024 Olympics were at their peak when badminton lovers turned to their devices to catch the final four encounters between India’s Lakshya Sen and Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen.

The Semifinals: A Stage Set for Drama

Olympic badminton has always been intense, and this year was not an exception especially when it reached the semifinals. Lakshya Sen, who is one of the promising youngsters of India in the badminton court, was emerging as a promising talent and was showing the world the best of his performance through his agility, precision, determination, and unbound energy levels. On the other hand, Viktor Axelsen, who was a beast of a man who boasted of powerful smashes, was a bona fide contender with a very good record.

First Game: Axelsen’s Dominance

To start with, the Lakshya Sen match was characterized by players’ concentration and willingness to go all out. There was a tight and nervous beginning, but Axelsen soon took control with his height and his heavy hitting. Strenuous to match Axelsen, Sen struggled to dodge the opponent’s forceful style of playing at times.

The element of the Danish player, hence court coverage and accurate shots, resulted in the Danish player getting an early lead. Sen tried to impress for his part and parried, looking for an opportunity and trying to make Axelsen make mistakes. But not this time, as Axelsen was resolved and attacked his way to win the first game with the score of 21-14.

Second Game: An Intense Fight

The second game was slightly different, where player of badminton Lakshya Sen, who looked very fresh, was back on the court again. After losing the first game, Sen began to feint and vary his shots more as he sent the shuttlecock at the base of the front court and at the net, which pressurized Axelsen. The Indian shuttler was, however, able to clinch a small lead in the middle of the game much to the joy of the Indian audience in the hall.

However, Axelsen, who is one of the best badminton players in the world, managed to level the score. The second game shifted into an amazing glyptic battle of both endurance and skills, with stunning shots exchanged all through. Thus, thanks to a better experience and the ability to perform better at the tie-breaks, Axelsen won 23-21 Sen thus concluding the match and progressing to the badminton final.

Lakshya Sen: Road to the Semi-Final

Though disappointed with the badminton tournament, one cannot deny that Lakshya Sen has shown a great fight and could reach the semi-finals. Sen, born in Almora, Uttarakhand has been an incredible player right from her childhood. He has achieved stepping stones, and brilliant playing in Indian badminton shows a record of his growth.

Early Rounds: Clinical and Commanding Kind

Sen started his Olympic campaign in style after blowing away all his opponents in the group stages. He was especially swift on his feet and with great court sense, which he used to dispose of his rivals. In the group stage matches, he did not lose a single set which indicated his good form as well as confidence.

Round of 16: This is more than a game

In the badminton match, Sen had ginting on his neck and this is evident that the match was challenging him to his limit. But Sen had to come out of the woods owing to his persistence and strategy in a well-contested manner. It was yet another triumph for the singer’s mental endurance and flexibility in the utmost critical hour.

Quarterfinals: A Statement Win

The greatest match-up to the Olympics for Sen was the quarterfinal match against Japan’s badminton best player, Kento Momota.  The Japanese athlete Momota, who was a former world number one player, was seen as the best one. His win over Momota was described in many quarters of the media as the statement win that propelled him to serious consideration for the Olympic badge.

Reflections and the Future

Although the defeat with Axelsen in the semifinal badminton match is quite clearly a reversal, the Olympic Games in Paris have been a breakthrough in the career of Lakshya Sen. His capacity to pull off the serious shot and his rise to the semifinal was very close. You know he has received or has been given many compliments and praises from the fans as well as the analysts and specialists.

Coach’s Perspective

Sen’s coach, Pullela Gopichand, also did not hide her pride in her ward and heptathlete. Lakshya is very young and has grown a lot. He showed great promise and performed very well in the Olympics, especially in his last match. This is not the end but the beginning of his journey, Gopichand observed.

Sen’s Resolve

Later in the interview after the match, Sen seemed not to be disappointed at all. “It was a rather challenging match and Viktor was incredibly good today,” he said concerning his performance during the game and some of the things that he could learn from the encounter.

Looking Ahead

The future seems to promise a lot for Lakshya Sen as he has proved to be very talented and hardworking with a lot of experience under his belt, having competed at a serious international level. Thus, the Paris Olympics may not have been crowned with a Sen’s medal, but his experience will doubtless help pave the way for future successes.

Quarterfinals A Statement Win

(image credits: The Indian Express)

It made  Lakshya Sen go silent when he lost to Viktor Axelsen in the semifinals of the Paris Olympics but it also inspired him. Although it was painful to watch Sen lose and lose convincingly, the latter proved more promising than the former. The badminton world can look forward to much more from this young and talented shuttler who has been one of the important chapters in Lakshya Sen’s career, which will lead him to further success in the future.

References-

https://sports.ndtv.com/olympics-2024/lakshya-sen-vs-zii-jia-lee-live-updates-paris-olympics-2024-day-10-badminton-bronze-medal-match-live-scorecard-6268045

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/paris-olympics-2024/indiaparis/how-lakshya-sen-lost-the-semifinal-against-victor-axelsen-at-paris-olympics/amp_articleshow/112275449.cms

https://www.thehindu.com/sport/olympics/badminton-at-olympics-sen-falls-to-axelsen-in-semis-to-play-bronze-medal-playoff/article68484681.ece

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