Lakshya Sen has a tattoo on his neck that boldly declares, “The sky is the limit.” If that’s true, he’s already reaching for the stars—though he’s certainly raised the bar for Indian badminton.
No Indian male had ever made it to the Olympic semifinals in men’s singles before Lakshya turned the Arena Porte de La Chapelle into his personal stage. He not only made history but also showed us that his potential might be limitless.
The road to Olympic greatness wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. At just 22, Lakshya had to dig deep, coming back from a game down to outmaneuver Taiwan’s Chou Tien Chen with scores of 19-21, 21-15, 21-12. It was a comeback that had everyone holding their breath!
“I’m thrilled to be the first Indian male to reach the Olympic semifinals. It’s amazing. But let’s be real—I’m exhausted. I need some serious rest before the next round,” Lakshya admitted.
He came into this match riding high after a stunning group stage performance where he defeated All England and Asian champion Jonatan Christie and then triumphed over fellow Indian H.S. Prannoy in the pre-quarterfinals.
Despite the hype, Lakshya was the underdog against Chou, a 34-year-old seasoned pro who had previously had the upper hand. The first game saw Chou’s crafty tactics putting Lakshya through the wringer, with trick shots and rapid pace keeping the Indian on his toes. Even though Lakshya led 18-17, Chou’s strategy of keeping him on the move seemed to be working.
The second game was no less of a rollercoaster. Chou thought he’d broken Lakshya’s spirit during a gripping rally, but a disputed line call and a bit of umpire drama didn’t faze our hero. With Prakash Padukone—Lakshya’s coach and former All England champ—cheering him on from the sidelines with a passionate “Josh dikhao” (show some energy), Lakshya dug deep and turned the game around.
Even when Chou hit a smash winner and celebrated like he’d just clinched the match, Lakshya remained unshaken. The younger player soaked up the pressure, countered with incredible agility, and won points he had no business winning.
As the match progressed, Lakshya, showing his superior stamina, started to pull away. Chou’s errors started piling up like laundry, and Lakshya’s lead grew steadily. By the end, Chou could only admit, “Lakshya was too fast today.”
So, with his tattoo’s mantra ringing true, Lakshya has certainly gone beyond limits—but he’s already eyeing the next challenge. “I’ll take a little break, then it’s back to training for the next match,” he said, already plotting his next move.
