WATCH: Lakshya Sen goes down in hard fought semifinals against World Number 2 in Paris Olympics

In a hard-fought battle, India's badminton star Lakshya Sen fell short against Denmark's Viktor Axelsen in the men's singles semifinal. The match saw Axelsen, the defending Olympic champion, secure his place in the final with a 22-20, 21-14 victory. Lakshya, however, showcased his resilience and skill, pushing Axelsen to the limit in a match filled with intense rallies and tactical play.

The first game was a testament to Lakshya's determination. Despite facing a taller and more experienced opponent, Lakshya Sen came out strong, leading 11-9 at the mid-game interval. His strategy of mixing drop shots with half smashes kept Axelsen on his toes. The drift inside the arena seemed to work in Lakshya's favour initially, causing Axelsen to misjudge some of his returns.

Here is the video:

𝙇𝙖𝙠𝙨𝙝𝙮𝙖 𝙏𝙤𝙝 𝙃𝙖𝙧 𝙃𝙖𝙖𝙡 𝙈𝙚𝙞𝙣 𝙋𝙖𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝙃𝙖𝙞... 🥹🎖️#Cheer4Bharat & watch him LIVE on #Sports18 & streaming FREE on #JioCinema 📲https://t.co/FDw88Bx1m8#OlympicsonJioCinema #OlympicsonSports18 #Olympics #Badminton #JioCinemaSports #Paris2024 #LakshyaSen pic.twitter.com/nErtmeNWml

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) August 4, 2024

As the game progressed, both players engaged in long rallies, testing each other's stamina and skill However, as the game neared its conclusion, Axelsen's powerful play started to take its toll on Lakshya. The Indian shuttler, who was leading by five points at one stage, found it increasingly difficult to maintain his momentum.

Despite having three game points, Lakshya was unable to close out the game, allowing Viktor Axelsen to come back and win 22-20. The missed opportunities in this closely contested game ultimately shifted the momentum in favour of the Danish player.

Lakshya flattered under pressure

In the second game, Lakshya started aggressively, quickly building a 7-0 lead. It seemed like he had found a way to counter Axelsen's dominance. However, the Danish champion responded with a series of powerful attacks, closing the gap and levelling the score at 10-10.

Although Lakshya managed to edge ahead by one point at the interval, the second half of the game saw Axelsen raise his level even further. His relentless attacks and well-placed smashes overwhelmed Lakshya, who struggled to find answers. The game ended 21-14 in Axelsen's favour, sealing the match.

Lakshya Sen's journey in this tournament has been impressive, and despite the loss, his performance against one of the world's best players highlights his potential. He will now face Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in the bronze medal match on Monday, where he will have another chance to showcase his talent and resilience on the world stage.