Paris Olympics 2024: Lakshya Sen recorded his name in history by becoming the first Indian man to reach the Olympic semi-final in badminton singles. At the Paris Olympics, the 22-year-old delivered a stunning comeback victory against 12th seed Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan.On the brink of Olympic gloryLakshya Sen is now one win away from securing a medal in his Olympic debut. As the sole Indian shuttler remaining at the Paris Games, he bears the aspirations of Indian badminton fans. Despite setbacks for other Indian contenders, including the mens doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who were eliminated in the quarter-finals, and two-time medalist PV Sindhu, who fell in the Round of 16, Lakshyas performance has kept hopes alive.HISTORY SCRIPTED 🥹🇮🇳1️⃣st ever Indian Mens Singles shuttler to reach #Olympics semifinal 😍Proud of you Lakshya, keep it up!📸: @badmintonphoto @himantabiswa | @sanjay091968 | @Arunlakhanioffi #Paris2024#IndiaAtParis24#Cheer4Bharat#IndiaontheRise#Badminton pic.twitter.com/OzyZaIiwOL— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 2, 2024Gritty victoryLakshya showcased incredible resilience by overcoming an initial game loss to defeat Chou Tien Chen with scores of 19-21, 21-15, 21-12 in a grueling match lasting an hour and 15 minutes. Facing the challenge as an unseeded player, Lakshya was up against a formidable 12th-seeded Chou, who played with unexpected aggression.Lakshyas prior victory over compatriot HS Prannoy in the Round of 16 kept him fresh for this contest, allowing him to draw upon his grit and determination to achieve this memorable win. This marked only his second victory in five encounters against Chou, who was left disheartened after a valiant effort.Display of grit and determinationFrom the start, Lakshya and Chou engaged in intense rallies, captivating the audience following electrifying mixed doubles medal matches won by Chinas Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong against Koreas Kim Won Ho and Jeong Na Eun. Both shuttlers delivered an Olympic classic, testing each other to the limit with top-tier shot-making and retrievals. Their agility and reflexes were on full display as they seamlessly transitioned from diving saves to rapid front-court play.Neck-and-Neck battleThe opening game saw both players fiercely contesting each point. Chou managed to edge ahead with an 11-10 lead by the interval, using his aggressive tactics to surprise Lakshya. Deviating from his usual style of long rallies and defensive play, Chou employed powerful smashes and quick net play to keep the pressure on the Indian shuttler.Chou extended his lead to 14-9, but Lakshya responded by accelerating his game and focusing on strategic placements, winning six consecutive points and leveling the score at 18-16. Despite Lakshyas surge, Chou secured the first game 21-19.Lakshyas comebackUndeterred by a dip in concentration during the second game, where a disagreement with the chair umpire momentarily disrupted his focus, Lakshya regained composure with guidance from coaches Prakash Padukone and Vimal Kumar. Overcoming this setback, Lakshya dominated the second game, winning 21-15 in just 17 minutes.In the deciding game, Lakshya maintained control, never allowing Chou to dictate the pace. With a blend of aggression and caution, he secured an 11-7 lead by the mid-game interval and clinched the match with a commanding 21-12 finish.
