Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen faced a heartbreaking defeat against Denmark's Viktor Axelsen in the men’s singles semi-final of the Paris Olympics 2024 on Sunday (August 4). Despite giving his all, Sen succumbed to the reigning Olympic champion 20-22, 14-21, ending India's hopes for its first-ever Olympic badminton gold.
Lakshya Sen, however, gave the World No. 2 Axelsen a run for his money. The match was intense, with Sen leading at crucial moments in both games. However, Axelsen’s experience under pressure ultimately tipped the scales in his favor. The 22-year-old Indian's inability to maintain his lead and contain his composure proved to be his undoing.
With this loss, India's hopes for its first-ever Olympic badminton gold were dashed. Fans took to social media to express their admiration and support for Sen and highlighted his promising future in the sport.
One fan tweeted:
“Real Warrior.. Matter of time for the boy to become the Legend.. He has the work ethic, fighter attitude, insane skill.. He will come back 4 yrs later even more deadly 💪🏻🔥Salute Lakshya.”
“HEARTBREAK FOR LAKSHYA SEN. The dream for the Gold Medal in badminton perishes at the Paris Olympics. A tough defeat against the defending champion for Lakshya," was another tweet.
The emotional toll of the loss was evident, with a fan noting:
“He will be the most disappointed and will be very tough to mentally recover for the match tomorrow. All the best to the champ.”
Comparisons were drawn between Sen's temperament and that of Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma, as one fan observed:
“The temperament and intent of Lakshya Sen reminds me of watching Rohit Sharma bat. He is so brutal, flawless, aesthetically beautiful and cool all at the same time.”
Looking ahead, fans remain optimistic about Sen’s potential for future success.
“Imagine #LakshyaSen beating the same opponent in the next Olympics. We will be there. We are seated Lakshya. Axelsen ke uss celebration ka jawab dena hai ab,” a fan wrote.
“Our hero, Lakshya Sen with more experience will break such games. He will be there, we will be there!,” commented one user.
The young Indian’s journey to the semi-finals was nothing short of spectacular, defeating several top players, including World No. 4 Jonathan Christie.
“Well done, champ! There are many victories waiting for you. He defeated top seed players in his very first Olympic game, mostly in straight sets! Also, he was very close to winning the first set in SFs against World No 2 ! You are always a champ, man!!! Good luck, Lakshya sen!!," one fan wrote.
Who will Lakshya Sen play in the bronze-medal match of the Paris Olympics 2024?
Lakshya Sen's Paris Olympics 2024 journey is not over yet. He will take on Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia for the bronze medal on August 5. Sen has a strong record against Lee, having won four out of their five encounters.
A win in this match would secure Sen a historic achievement: becoming the first Indian male player to win a medal in badminton at the Olympics. To date, India’s Olympic badminton medals have come from female players, with Saina Nehwal securing bronze in London 2012 and PV Sindhu winning silver in Rio 2016 and bronze in Tokyo 2020.