The 22-year-old Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen created history by reaching the Semifinals at the Paris 2024 Olympics after beating Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien Chen in the Quarterfinals of the men’s singles badminton. Sen became the first Indian male badminton player to reach the Semifinals in an edition of the Summer Olympics.
In the men’s singles at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Lakshya Sen, the world-ranked 22, faced Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien Chen on Friday (2nd August). Although Sen lost the first game by 19-21, the Indian boy made a strong comeback and won the next two games (21-15, 21-12) to create history in Indian badminton.
Lakshya Sen became the first Indian male shuttler to qualify for the Summer Olympics Semifinals
Sen became the first Indian male to qualify for the Semifinals in the men’s singles event at any Summer Olympics. He is now very close to clinching one badminton medal for India at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Sen is the only hope remaining for India to claim any badminton medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
All Indian badminton Olympic medals are from women's singles
India has three badminton medals from the Summer Olympics, and all came from women’s singles. After Saina Nehwal won the historic bronze in London 2012, PV Sindhu secured the silver and bronze medals in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, respectively.
Lakshya Sen has dominated in the Paris 2024 Olympics
Earlier at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Lakshya Sen was the Group L champion after beating German Julien Carraggi (21-19, 21-14) and Indonesian Jonatan Christie (21-18, 21-12). Sen faced another Indian HS Prannoy in the Round of 16, where Sen overpowered by 21-12, 21-6 to qualify for the Quarterfinals.
If Sen wins the Semifinal match on Sunday (4th August), he will secure one medal for India by qualifying for the Final. Otherwise, a Semifinal defeat will put him in the bronze medal match.
