India's Olympic Badminton Dream Dashed

India's hope of winning its first badminton Olympic gold remains unfulfilled after Lakshya Sen lost to Viktor Axelsen in the semifinals at the Paris Games. Despite a strong start, Sen lost in straight games. He will compete for a bronze against Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia.

India's aspiration of securing its first-ever Olympic gold medal in badminton was dashed as Lakshya Sen faced a straight-game defeat to reigning Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen in the men’s singles semifinals at the Paris Games on Sunday.

Sen, 22, from Almora, who holds a 2021 World Championships bronze medal, lost a three-point edge in the first game and a 7-0 lead in the second, ultimately surrendering 20-22, 14-21 to two-time world champion Axelsen in a 54-minute match.

The Indian shuttler will have another opportunity to make history as the first Indian male to clinch an Olympic badminton medal when he faces Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in the bronze medal playoff. India's Olympic badminton campaign has seen PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal previously winning silver and bronze medals, respectively.