How Lakshya Sen broke the mould at Paris Olympics

Lakshya is first Indian male to advance to Olympics semifinals

PARIS: Lakshya Sen has discovered a second wind. Having spent eight months recovering from surgery on his nose in August last year, it was a struggle for him to first qualify for Paris 2024, and then stay focused and determined as he went deep into the men's singles competition here. Deeper than any Indian male shuttler has gone before.

At the Porte de la Chapelle arena here on Friday, Sen created history by entering the semifinals after an energy sapping, 75-minute, three-game encounter with a rival who has himself suffered a lot physically in the recent past, Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien-Chen. Sen prevailed 19-21, 21-15, 21-12.

Chou was diagnosed with cancer in 2023 and had an operation to re move part of his colon. It took him time to recover both physically and mentally.

For both these players, it was a matter of pride having reached the quarterfinals. They fought hard, neither willing to let go in the first game. Chou tried to draw Sen to the net, involve him in rallies closer to the net and force him into errors. The Indian realised the rival's gameplan and changed strategy to open up the game. It was 7-7, then 13-13 and 18-18. It could have gone either way but Chou hit two clean smashes to win the first game.

The second game was also close till the halfway stage. Sen took a three-point lead, lost it and then trailed at 7-9. He recovered with smart drop shots and cross court smash to lead 11-10. It was still very close. They went neck-and-neck till 13-13. This is where Lakshya took charge. He won a point with superb net play, smashed one hard and then made a reflex return. Chou gave up. 21-15 and the match had tilted towards the Indian.

The Chinese Taipei player seemed to be tiring a bit in the decider. After 3-3, the gap started increasing. Chou was either hitting it a little long or finding the net. Sen was returning everything, the way he did against Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in their group stage clash.

At 11-7, Sen looked in control. Chou started making unforced errors. From 13-9 it was 15-11, then 16-12. There was no way Chou was coming back. Sen by now had moved in for the kill.

He smashed one hard to get the match point. His drop shot then was buried into the net by Chou. 21-12. Match over. They shook hands, Chou said something, Sen nodded and replied. There was respect for one another.

Later, in the mixed zone, Lakshya was looking tired and wanted to get done with the official duty fast. The reality of the win had already sunk in.

"I have a lot more work to do now. The real test begins now," he said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I have just a day to rest and recover. 48 hours. There is no time."


Get the latest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 updates, including the full schedule, teams, live scores, points table, and key series stats such as top run-scorers and wicket-takers.