Lakshya Sen Becomes 1st Indian Male Badminton Player to Reach Olympic Semifinals

Paris: Lakshya Sen has achieved a historic milestone in Indian badminton by becoming the first Indian male shuttler to reach the semifinals of the Olympic Games. At the Paris Olympics, the 22-year-old sensation secured his spot in the semifinals with a thrilling victory over Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei, finishing the match with scores of 19-21, 21-15, 21-12.

Sen’s win sets up a potential semifinal clash against either Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, the second seed, or Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew. This victory highlights Sen’s exceptional talent and his emergence as a formidable force in the sport.

Indian badminton has seen notable successes in recent years with Saina Nehwal’s bronze in London 2012 and PV Sindhu’s impressive runs in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, where she won silver and bronze, respectively. However, Sen’s achievement marks a significant breakthrough for Indian men’s badminton, a feat previously unattained by Indian male players.

With other top Indian players, including PV Sindhu and the men’s doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, having exited the tournament, the pressure now rests heavily on Sen to deliver a medal for India. Despite the weight of expectations, Sen remains focused and determined, driven by his rigorous training and dedication.