Lakshya Sen has made history by becoming the first Indian male shuttler to reach the semifinals of the Olympic Games. However, he faces a tough challenge as he goes up against Denmark's Viktor Axelsen, who has a dominating record and is the defending Olympic champion. With only one victory against Axelsen in their eight previous meetings, Sen will have to give his all to secure a spot in the finals and keep his hopes alive for an Olympic gold. Follow our senior reporter Mihir Vasavda for live updates on this highly anticipated match.
Lakshya Sen: India's Rising Star in Badminton
Lakshya Sen, a 20-year-old Indian badminton player, has etched his name in history as the first Indian male shuttler to reach the semifinals of the Olympic Games. His remarkable achievement came after he stunned world number three Kidambi Srikanth in the quarterfinals, marking a significant milestone in Indian badminton.
Early Life and Career
Born on August 16, 2001, in Almora, Uttarakhand, Sen began playing badminton at the tender age of five. Trained by his father, D.K. Sen, a former national badminton champion, Lakshya quickly demonstrated exceptional talent.
In 2016, at the age of 15, Sen won the Asian Junior Championships in the under-15 category. He followed this up with victories in the Asian Junior Championships (under-17) in 2017 and 2018.
International Success
Sen's international breakthrough came in 2019 when he won the BWF World Junior Championships. He also made his debut in the BWF World Tour Super 500 Finals, where he reached the semifinals.
In 2021, Sen achieved remarkable success on the BWF World Tour, winning the Dutch Open and the Belgian Open. He also reached the semifinals of the All England Open, becoming the second Indian male after Prakash Padukone to do so.
Road to the Olympics
Sen secured his place in the Tokyo Olympics by winning the Asian Badminton Championship in 2021, a silver medal at the Asian Games in 2018, and a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
In the Tokyo Olympics, Sen started his campaign with a dominating performance, winning all three of his group stage matches. He then defeated world number seven Anders Antonsen of Denmark and world number one Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Who is Lakshya Sen's coach? Lakshya Sen is coached by his father, D.K. Sen, and former India coach Vimal Kumar.
2. What is Sen's world ranking? As of August 2021, Lakshya Sen is ranked 10th in the world by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
3. Who is Lakshya Sen's biggest rival? Sen's biggest rival is Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, whom he has faced eight times with only one victory.
4. What is Lakshya Sen's biggest achievement? Sen's biggest achievement to date is reaching the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first Indian male shuttler to do so.
5. What is Lakshya Sen's potential for the future? With his exceptional talent and determination, Lakshya Sen has the potential to become one of the greatest badminton players in the world and inspire future generations of Indian athletes.
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