Lakshya Sen Vs Viktor Axelsen SF Highlights, Paris Olympics: Tired Indian Loses In Straight Games; To Fight For Bronze

The crucial men's singles semi-final between Lakshya Sen and Viktor Axelsen is scheduled to begin at 3:30pm IST. The Indian has beaten the world number 2 once before, but it remains a daunting challenge ahead of him. Either way, an engrossing encounter is in store. (Streaming | Medal Table | Schedule & Results)

The 30-year-old Axelsen possesses a 7-1 head-to-head record against Sen, whose only victory against the reigning Olympic champion came back in 2022 at the German Open.

While we wait for Sen's match to begin, the Indian hockey team, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and long jumper Jeswin Aldrin are in action. The pulsating quarter-final between India and Great Britain has gone to penalty shoot-outs, while Aldrin has fouled his first two jumps and Lovlina's quarter-final has just begun.

The match gets underway, and the Dane races to a three-point lead in the first game. Strong start for Axelsen, though Lakshya has time and again shown his ability to fight back from behind.

A long punch-clear by Sen lands just in, and the Indian narrows the gap to two points. The on-court drift is certain to play a big role in this encounter, as it has in all the other matches.

The Indian is in the lead for the first time in this game. He leaps to put a mid-court shuttle away to Axelsen's right. Sen counter-punching against the defending champion.

A fabulous half-smash from Sen ends a long rally, and he leads the Dane again in the first game. Riveting badminton, this.

Sen now with a four-point lead. A few unforced errors creeping in from Axelsen, and the Indian capitalizes admirably well to surge ahead.

The Indian is bossing this and how! It is quite a sight to see Sen dictating the rallies against the top dog. The 22-year-old is engaging Axelsen in an all-court battle and winning it at the moment. The powerful, towering Dane has the ability to end rallies with one smash, but currently, Sen has his number.

The importance of winning the first game against the second seed cannot be overstated. The psychological advantage of going into the second game with the knowledge of having one-upped the legend will be immense. Let's see if Sen can hold on to his lead and actually do that.

The former world number 1 is now clawing his way back in, and despite continuing to play a strong strategic game, Lakshya has lost several points in quick succession. Axelsen now within one point of drawing level.

An outstanding cross-court smash from Sen gives him three game points.

The Dane has saved two of the three game points with his brilliant defence. One more to go.

The third game point goes abegging too, as Sen's punch-clear goes long and his referral cannot overturn the decision.

After doing so well to open up a sizeable lead and garner three game points, Lakshya Sen has lost the first game in dramatic fashion. Axelsen wins five points in a row to snatch the game from the jaws of defeat. Pressure now right back on the Indian.

Sen off to a flier in Game 2 despite the disappointment of the first game. He opens up a five-point lead straight away. Question, though remains: can he hold on to it?

Fabulous play from Sen regenerates a five-point lead. He pounces on a rare loose shuttle from Axelsen with ferocity to make it 8-3 after losing three straight points.

Axelsen bounces back. He absolutely nails a down-the-line put away to come within one point of equalising. Alarm bells ringing again for Sen.

Sen loses his racket while trying to retrieve a half-smash from Axelsen, and loses the point too as a result. Still ahead by two points.

From 0-7 down, Axelsen sprung back with aplomb to make it 10-10, but Sen wins the next point to go into the mid-game interval in the lead, though only just.

The 22-year-old wins a long-drawn rally to briefly take the lead again, but an unforced error off the next point brings Game 2 back on level terms.

Sen seems to be losing the plot here. He has lost 15 of the last 20 points and the advantage has quickly slipped away. Can he find a way back in this contest?

A rare net battle ensues and Lakshya wins it with a silken touch. Still three points behind in the second game.

Axelsen is now in the mood. On the attack all through and opens up six match points against the tired Sen.

And that's that. Axelsen converts the first match point and zooms into the gold medal match. Sen clearly appeared tired after the gruelling early exchanges, and was unable to match the power-packed strokes of his imposing opponent in the final few minutes.

The defending champion advances to the final, where he will face Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand.

He may have lost today, but Sen is still in the reckoning for a medal. The 22-year-old will play Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia, who lost to Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand, in the bronze medal play-off. The match is at 6pm IST tomorrow.