Paris Olympics Badminton: 'Sen'sational Lakshya storms into historic semi-finals; how star India shuttler defeated Chou Tien Chen after one set down

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Paris, Aug 2: In a thrilling match at the Paris Olympics, Lakshya Sen made history by becoming the first Indian male shuttler to reach the semifinals of the Men's singles badminton event.

Facing the 12th-seeded Chou Tien Chen from Chinese Taipei, Sen battled back from a game down to secure a 19-21, 21-15, 21-12 victory at the La Chapelle Arena.

The match began on a challenging note for Sen, who trailed 9-11 at the mid-game interval of the first game. Both players engaged in high-speed rallies, showcasing remarkable net exchanges. Despite Sen's efforts, Chou maintained his grip and clinched the first game 21-19, demonstrating his prowess and court coverage.

Transitioning into the second game, Chou initially capitalized on Sen's weak returns, displaying aggressive play. However, Sen matched his intensity shot for shot. The game witnessed a moment of contention when Sen challenged a call at 6-6.

Despite the umpire's assurance of seeing the result, the absence of the Hawkeye graphic on the screen led to a brief argument. This incident seemed to fuel Sen's determination, as he edged into the mid-game break with an 11-10 lead.

As the second game progressed, Chou began to show signs of fatigue, making unforced errors that allowed Sen to build momentum. Sen seized this opportunity, securing six game points and eventually taking the game 21-15, pushing the match into a decisive third game.

With renewed energy, Sen dominated the final game. He entered the mid-game interval with an 11-7 lead, extending it to 17-12 shortly after. Demonstrating superb judgment and powerful smashes, Sen controlled the pace, eventually clinching the decider 21-12.

Sen's journey to the semifinals included a notable win against teammate H.S. Prannoy in the round of 16, where he triumphed 21-12, 21-6. With this victory, Sen became only the third Indian to reach the quarterfinals of the men's singles at the Olympics, following Parupalli Kashyap (London 2012) and Kidambi Srikanth (Rio 2016).

Now, as India's sole remaining challenge in badminton at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Sen prepares to face either Viktor Axelsen or Kean Yew Loh in the semifinals on Sunday.