05 august 2024 : Sen will be the favorite in the crucial clash as he has a 4-1 head-to-head record against the Malaysian, including a win at the All-England Open earlier this year. The 22-year-old Indian shuttler performed well in the semifinal but lost with a score of 20-22 14-21 to the two-time world champion Axelsen. Sen had control of the first game but collapsed, and although he started the second game with a 7-0 lead, Axelsen came back and won. After the match, Lakshya commented, ‘I think I became passive when I was defending, and I should have taken chances and attacked.
Sen will be the favorite in the crucial clash as he has a 4-1 head-to-head record against the Malaysian, including a win at the All-England Open earlier this year. The 22-year-old Indian shuttler performed well in the semifinal but lost with a score of 20-22 14-21 to the two-time world champion Axelsen. Sen had control of the first game but collapsed, and although he started the second game with a 7-0 lead, Axelsen came back and won. After the match, Lakshya commented, ‘I think I became passive when I was defending, and I should have taken chances and attacked.
Despite the higher ranking of his opponent, Lakshya, ranked 22nd in the world, was able to match the intensity of the world number two for a significant portion of the match. He even managed to take the lead at one point, winning six consecutive points and leading 15-9 in the first game. However, Axelsen staged a strong comeback, taking advantage of some unforced errors to ultimately win the first game 22-20.
In the second game, Lakshya fought hard and even led 7-0 at one stage. Nevertheless, Olympic champion Victor demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure by turning the game around and winning 21-14, securing a spot in the gold medal match after 54 minutes of play.
At just 22 years old, Lakshya Sen has the opportunity to become the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal in the men’s event. So far in the Paris Olympics, he has defeated top players like Jonatan Christie, HS Prannoy, and Chou Tien-Chen. While Chou Tien-Chen did manage to pose a challenge for Lakshya, the Indian star ultimately emerged victorious with a score of 19-21, 21-15, 21-1
In the Paris Olympics, Lakshya has defeated players like Jonatan Christie, HS Prannoy, and Chou Tien-Chen. Among them, Chou Tien-Chen was the only one who posed a challenge for Lakshya, but the Indian player still managed to secure a victory with a score of 19-21, 21-15, 21-12
