Paris Olympics 2024: Lakshya's SEN-sational win seals semi-final spot; Indian fans say 'forgot about cricket today'

With hearts in their mouths, after he lost the first game, fans were on the edge of their seats watching Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen make history by securing a place in the semi-finals of the badminton tournament at the Paris Olympic Games 2024. He becomes the first Indian male shuttler to reach the semi-finals after defeating the formidable Chou Tien-Chen of Chinese Taipei in a thrilling quarterfinal match with scores of 19-21, 21-15, 21-12.

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Although Sen was close to winning the opening game, he lost it 21-19. He made a strong comeback with a dominant performance in the second set, winning 21-15. In the decisive third game, Lakshya was the first to reach five points, though his opponent kept the score tight. Nevertheless, the Indian shuttler managed to maintain his lead and won the final game 21-12, advancing to the semi-finals with a memorable victory.

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥! 🥹

Lakshya Sen becomes the first shuttler from 🇮🇳 to reach the semi-final in the men's singles at the Olympics following his comeback win against Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien Chen at #Paris2024. 👌 pic.twitter.com/2mg1AlZ7Zm

— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) August 2, 2024

Earlier, the 22-year-old Lakshya had knocked out HS Prannoy in the Round of 16 on Thursday. In the must-win group stage match, Sen pulled off a major upset as he defeated World No. 3 Jonatan Christie with scores of 21-18 and 21-12.

Fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) kept praising the young lad and are praying he makes it to the Final of the event. In fact, many even stated they were happy to miss the India versus Sri Lanka 1st ODI game for this exciting game.

Haha! Still Olympic fever has me hooked! Can't look away from the excitement to watch cricket just yet. #INDvSL #Paris2024 #Paris2024Olympic #LakshyaSen https://t.co/eFXLU3FJ1d

— Cricket Fanatic (@OyeChaaGayeGuru) August 2, 2024

And he has done it. I feel so privileged to have watched #LakshyaSen play. First ever Indian male badminton 🏸 player to enter semis of an Olympics. pic.twitter.com/tag4WS7uUi

— Dr Gaurav Garg (@DrGauravGarg4) August 2, 2024

First Indian male to enter an Olympic badminton semi final. Lakshya Sen is smashing history.#LakshyaSen pic.twitter.com/K5qvGPs3BT

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) August 2, 2024

Mad respect for this guy Lakshya Sen .

Whats a player. 🔥

Pray For Lakshya Sen. 🙏
Advance Congratulations Brother. 💐#LakshyaSen #Badminton pic.twitter.com/7wnkejz7P3

— Saurabh kumar (@Saurabhk0096) August 2, 2024

What a great match after losing the 1st set.@lakshya_sen has come back and set himself as 1st Indian male as stroming enrty in #Olympics
Semifinal.. Today literally don't watch Cricket match #LakshyaSen#Paris2024 #IndiaAtParis #Cheers4Bharat #Badminton #OlimpiadasParís2024 pic.twitter.com/5mgcmUPPCO

— Ashish Thakur (@Ashish_KrThakur) August 2, 2024

#Lakshya #LakshyaSen #GOAT pic.twitter.com/RdGbFsKJrV

— rora chats~ (@rora_chats) August 2, 2024

Other Indian shuttlers:

The top men's doubles team in India, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were shockingly eliminated in the quarter-finals, and PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympian, faced a round of 16 elimination.

In the last three Summer Games, India has won a medal in badminton. At the 2012 London Olympics, Saina Nehwal earned the nation's first badminton medal with a bronze. PV Sindhu qualified for the finals of the Rio Olympics in 2016 and won a historic silver and in Tokyo 2020, she won a bronze.

At the Paris Summer Games, Lakshya Sen needs just one more victory to give India its fourth Olympic badminton medal. The Indian team is still aiming for a gold medal in shooting, having already taken home three medals from these Games.

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