Lakshya Sen, India’s top badminton hope at the Paris Olympics 2024, is still grappling with the disappointment of missing out on a medal. Despite his stellar performance leading up to the semifinals, Sen fell short against Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen and then lost the bronze-medal match to Malaysia’s Lee Zee Jia. The young shuttler, who had the weight of India’s expectations on his shoulders, returned home empty-handed, unable to break India’s 12-year streak of winning Olympic badminton medals.
In an emotional conversation, Sen admitted that the losses continue to sting. “After the match, I was devastated. It’s going to hurt for a while that I couldn’t give India the medal at this Olympics,” he shared. Reflecting on his performances, he acknowledged that while his preparation and tactics were sound, crucial moments got away from him.
In the midst of this turmoil, Sen found solace in an unexpected gesture from Deepika Padukone, the daughter of his coach, badminton legend Prakash Padukone. After the bronze-medal match, Deepika reached out to him, offering words of encouragement. “She called me and said, ‘It’s fine; don’t worry. You did good,'” Sen recalled, adding that her warmth provided comfort during a difficult time.
Sen also expressed his gratitude towards Prakash Padukone, who has been a mentor and father figure throughout his journey. Despite the criticism from his coaches, Sen knows he can rely on their support as he looks ahead to future challenges.
