The fear aroused after Lakshya Sen lost to Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the singles semi-finals at the Paris Olympics on Sunday. Will he get the medal? The history of several Indian players failing after coming close to a medal win raised that fear. But unfortunately the fear did come true. Lakshay Sen lost the bronze match against Malaysia.
On Monday, Lakshya started the match by playing aggressively on the court. He beat Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia, who is number seven in the world ranking in the first round by 21/13 . The target reached 16 points before Lee composed himself. His opponent was still at 10 points. The Malaysian opponent could not erase this gap. In the first 20 minutes of the match, it seemed that the goal was ready. But later it was realised that the preparation was not enough.
After winning the first set, the hopes were raised among people, but in the next two sets, Sen was unable to defend his Malaysian opponent Lee Zii Jia. Unfortunately, Lakshya Sen’s record as the first Indian male badminton player to win a medal at the Olympics remained elusive.
Match highlight
From the very first set, the young Indian badminton star found himself in his familiar rhythm. In the first set, Lakshya Sen did not let his opponent stand. From the beginning, he was leading by 5/6 points. The Malaysian opposition had no answer to the onslaught of points. He finished the first set with a further gap. Lakshad won the first set by 21/13 points.
But in the second set, the opponent Malaysia turned around. Lee Zii Jia changed his style a bit and walked on the path of counterattack. Jia also took a 3 point lead. In the second set, the two stars fought hard. Although Jia was caught in the middle, the opponent took the lead again in the next round. At the end Lakshya Sen lost the second set by 21/16.
From the beginning of the third set, Jia increased his dominance. Sen took the lead by a large margin from the beginning. At the beginning of the set, Lakshay Sen’s right arm muscle was tensed. He also took the help of the medical team twice. But the target could not give any fight in the third set. In the end, Lakshya lost by 21/11.
Lakshya Sen could not win even after giving his best fight. The Indian star shuttler had to be content with being fourth. But after four years the target will be fulfilled, that can be expected.
Opinion about Lakshay Sen after semi-finals
After the semi-final Axelsen said that Lakshay has talent. There is an effort to learn and work hard. After four years, he could become the main contender for Olympic gold. Maybe he is right. The education phase of Lakshay is not over. He has to wait patiently for initiation. Before the Olympics, Lakshay was not seen as a potential medalist for India in badminton. PV Sindhu in women’s singles and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in men’s doubles were kept in the reckoning.
Lakshay Sen did not get the status of selection in the Olympics. But champions don’t worry about chances or selection list. They trust in their own abilities. After the start of the fight, he tries to corner the opponent. Lakshay may have wanted that. But he couldn’t. As Axelsen rightly says, there is still learning to do. At least to win major titles.
History of India badminton players
There is no particular age to win Olympic gold. Novak Djokovic won his first gold on Sunday at the age of 37 in his fifth attempt. Lakshay Sen is now 22. In the Olympics Gold can be won at a younger age than this. The world can be shocked. Sports culture is behind that success. Before Prakash Padukone, Bimal Kumar, Pullela Gopichandera took the initiative, there was no modern quality badminton academy in this country. Three Olympic medals have come in the last few decades of trying. Saina Nehwal, Sindhura brought the medals. The men’s national team is the Thomas Cup Champion (equivalent to the World Cup). In 2022, Lakshay was one of the most important members of that team.
The era of consistent success at the international level began in Indian badminton a decade and a half ago. Padukone, Gopichand or Syed Modi before they have been identified as exceptional talents. Lakshay Sen did not go down in Paris. Actually Indian Badminton is yet to reach the desired target. Almora’s youngster’s racket may give badminton in the country a little boost.
India does not have Olympic successful athletes like Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt etc. No one in this country looks for such glittering golden success. A bronze is considered a success. Any athlete is proud to represent the country in the Olympics. Lakshay is the exception right here. He has achieved success at the highest international level from junior level. Polished and built his own game. Ready for new ideas. Added new shots. Corrected some weak shots. He proceeded by upgrading himself day by day. He has to go more further.
