'You definitely deserve a medal': Viktor Axelsen praises Lakshya Sen for his performance at Paris Olympics

NEW DELHI: Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen received commendation from two-time world champion Viktor Axelsen after Axelsen defended his gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

Axelsen praised Sen for his "fantastic performances" and mentioned that the 22-year-old Indian deserved a medal, recognizing Sen's historical achievement as the first Indian men's badminton player to reach the Olympics semifinals.

Despite his significant effort, Sen lost to Axelsen in the semifinals and finished fourth overall after a defeat by Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in the bronze medal playoff.

Sen posted a gratitude message on the social media platform 'X', to which Axelsen replied with encouragement. Axelsen wrote, "Keep going brother. You can be really proud of yourself. Wish all semifinalists could get a medal as you definitely deserve one." He further congratulated Sen and his fellow competitors, stating, "Congrats to you all on a fantastic performance at the Games."



Commenting on their semifinal match, Axelsen, who won with scores of 22-20, 21-14, expressed confidence in Sen's bright future.

"Lakshya is an amazing player. He has shown in this Olympics that he is a very, very strong competitor, and I am sure in four years from now, he will be one of the favourites to win the gold," Axelsen had remarked after the match.

Axelsen's praise underlines Sen's potential in badminton. "He is an amazing talent and a great guy, and I wish him all the best," Axelsen concluded.

Sen's performance at the Paris Olympics has not only garnered admiration but also set the stage for a promising career ahead. Despite missing out on a medal, the support and recognition he has received highlight his potential and the anticipation of future successes.