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.
The Catalan giants, led by coach Hansi Flick, showcased an impressive performance as they defeated Real Madrid with an astonishing score of 4-0. This win solidifies Barcelona's position at the top of La Liga, six points clear from their rival. Flick praised his team's flow and mentality, but reminded them to stay focused for the upcoming matches. The team is on a roll, winning 10 out of 11 league matches despite missing key injured players.
In Saturday's El Clasico, Barcelona dominated Real Madrid with a stunning 4-0 victory. The highlight of the match was 17-year-old Lamine Yamal becoming the youngest player to ever score in El Clasico history. Barcelona's win put them at the top of La Liga with 30 points, while Madrid fell behind with six points gap due to injury struggles. The Brazilian winger Raphinha also had a stellar performance, scoring a hat-trick midweek in the Champions League and sealing the deal with the fourth goal against Real Madrid.
In a highly anticipated match between Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, it was the former who came out on top with a convincing 4-0 win. Two goals from star striker Robert Lewandowski and additional strikes from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha sealed the deal for Barcelona, who ended Madrid's 42-match unbeaten streak in La Liga. The win also solidified Barcelona's lead at the top of the league standings, showcasing their dominance under coach Hansi Flick. Meanwhile, Los Blancos' star player Kylian Mbappe had a frustrating Clasico debut, with two of his goals disallowed for offside.
Real Madrid faced a crushing defeat against their bitter rivals Barcelona in a LaLiga Clasico match yesterday. Despite playing with intensity in the first half, missed opportunities and two quick goals from Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski in the second half sapped the energy from the Madrid side. Ancelotti expressed his disappointment at the result but added that there is still room for improvement and the season is yet long.
Real Madrid's Brazilian player Vinícius Júnior has been garnering attention for his impressive performances on the field, leading many to believe he will take home the Ballon d'Or award next week. After scoring a hat-trick in a recent Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund, Vini Jr. has solidified his position as a rising star in the world of football. His skills and abilities are setting the bar high for other young players, such as Kylian Mbappé, proving that the Messi-Ronaldo era may finally be coming to an end.
In a thrilling Clasico match, Robert Lewandowski's quickfire brace and goals from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha led Barcelona to a dominant 4-0 victory over rivals Real Madrid. Despite Kylian Mbappe's strong performance, the visitors' high defensive line and relentless attack proved too much for Madrid, ending their unbeaten La Liga streak of 42 games. With coach Hansi Flick's young team making a statement victory, the Catalans showed their superiority and potential to take on any opponent in the world.
Fans of both Barcelona and Real Madrid were treated to an outstanding game today as the Catalan club emerged victorious with a crushing 4-0 win against their arch-rivals at the Bernabeu. Robert Lewandowski scored two goals in three minutes while youngster Lamine Yamal added to the tally, handing Real Madrid their first defeat in 42 LaLiga games. The win solidifies Barcelona's top spot in the league and marks a glorious end to their four consecutive Clasico defeats.
Relive the thrilling moments of Barcelona's big win against Real Madrid in the much-awaited El Clasico fixture. As Barcelona moves six points clear on top of the table, fans will get to see the team's early signs towards a successful season under Hansi Flick's leadership. Catch up on live scores, team news, latest updates, and reactions from this exhilarating match, as Mail Sport provides comprehensive coverage of the action.
Despite dominating possession and missing multiple chances, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti couldn't secure a win against bitter rivals Barcelona in the LaLiga Clasico on Saturday. Ancelotti lamented his team's missed opportunities and said the result didn't accurately reflect the game, but acknowledged that they were hurt by their lack of accuracy in front of goal. However, he urged his team to bounce back and not give up, as the season is still long and they can do better.
After an unbeaten 12-year streak, India faced a shocking defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the home Test series, with left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner taking a remarkable 13 wickets in the match. Despite reflecting on their shortcomings and acknowledging New Zealand's strong performance, India's captain Rohit Sharma remained uncertain about their loss. Despite this loss, India still holds the top spot in the World Test Championship standings.