Paris: Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen faced a tough defeat against reigning Olympic champion Victor Axelsen in the semifinals of the men’s singles competition at the ongoing Paris Olympics on Sunday. Despite a spirited performance, Lakshya succumbed to Axelsen with scores of 20-22, 14-21.
🇮🇳 Result Update: Men’s Singles Badminton SF👇
Lakshya Sen loses to Viktor Axelsen 0-2💔
Lakshya had remained undefeated in the Group stages and had also registered a dominating performance in the Quarters.
However, the 22-year-old lost to World no. 2 Viktor Axelsen 20-22,… pic.twitter.com/QWaMshznEM
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) August 4, 2024
Ranked world number 22, Lakshya Sen matched the intensity of the world number two Axelsen for a significant part of the match. In the first game, Lakshya demonstrated remarkable skill and resilience, leading 15-9 after winning six consecutive points. However, Axelsen’s experience and composure allowed him to mount a comeback, capitalizing on unforced errors from Lakshya to clinch the game 22-20.
The second game saw Lakshya taking an impressive 7-0 lead, but Axelsen once again showcased his big-match temperament, reversing the deficit to win the game 21-14 in a 54-minute contest. This victory propels Axelsen to the gold medal match, where he will defend his title against Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn on Monday.
Lakshya still remains in contention for a medal and will compete for the bronze against Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia tomorrow. Prior to reaching the semifinals, Lakshya delivered a commendable performance against Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien-Chen, overcoming a first-game loss to secure a 19-21, 21-15, 21-12 victory.
