How Lakshya Sen broke the mould at Paris Olympics | Paris Olympics 2024 Information – Instances of India

Lakshya is first Indian male to advance to Olympics semifinals
PARIS: Lakshya Sen has found a second wind. Having spent eight months recovering from surgical procedure on his nostril in August final 12 months, it was a wrestle for him to first qualify for Paris 2024, after which keep centered and decided as he went deep into the boys’s singles competitors right here. Deeper than any Indian male shuttler has gone earlier than.
On the Porte de la Chapelle area right here on Friday, Sen created historical past by getting into the semifinals after an power sapping, 75-minute, three-game encounter with a rival who has himself suffered quite a bit bodily within the current previous, Chinese language Taipei‘s Chou Tien-Chen.Sen prevailed 19-21, 21-15, 21-12.
Chou was identified with most cancers in 2023 and had an operation to re transfer a part of his colon. It took him time to get better each bodily and mentally.
For each these gamers, it was a matter of delight having reached the quarterfinals. They fought laborious, neither prepared to let go within the first sport. Chou tried to attract Sen to the web, contain him in rallies nearer to the web and drive him into errors. The Indian realised the rival’s gameplan and altered technique to open up the sport. It was 7-7, then 13-13 and 18-18. It might have gone both means however Chou hit two clear smashes to win the primary sport.
The second sport was additionally shut until the midway stage. Sen took a three-point lead, misplaced it after which trailed at 7-9. He recovered with good drop photographs and cross courtroom smash to guide 11-10. It was nonetheless very shut. They went neck-and-neck until 13-13. That is the place Lakshya took cost. He gained some extent with very good web play, smashed one laborious after which made a reflex return. Chou gave up. 21-15 and the match had tilted in the direction of the Indian.
The Chinese language Taipei participant gave the impression to be tiring a bit within the decider. After 3-3, the hole began rising. Chou was both hitting it somewhat lengthy or discovering the web. Sen was returning every little thing, the best way he did towards Jonatan Christie of Indonesia of their group stage conflict.
At 11-7, Sen seemed in management. Chou began making unforced errors. From 13-9 it was 15-11, then 16-12. There was no means Chou was coming again. Sen by now had moved in for the kill.
He smashed one laborious to get the match level. His drop shot then was buried into the web by Chou. 21-12. Match over. They shook arms, Chou stated one thing, Sen nodded and replied. There was respect for each other.
Later, within the combined zone, Lakshya was wanting drained and wished to get finished with the official responsibility quick. The truth of the win had already sunk in.
“I’ve much more work to do now. The actual take a look at begins now,” he stated, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “I’ve only a day to relaxation and get better. 48 hours. There is no such thing as a time.”