Lakshya Sen may have lost the semi-final, but she is getting closer to qualifying for the Olympics | Top Vip News

In July last year, Lakshya Sen lost in the semi-final of the Japan Open. For the rest of 2023, she failed to make any significant progress in several tournaments and, much to her dismay, she maintained that form into the new year. A temporary slump is something most athletes take in stride. But in this Olympic year, in which the 16 best in the world will make the cut for the Paris Games in July, it was a cause for concern for the 22-year-old runner.

However, when it matters most, Lakshya Sen has come to life, reaching the semi-finals of back-to-back tournaments to take 15th place in the qualification race for the Paris Olympics.

At the French Open earlier this month, he beat China’s Li Shi Feng, the defending All England Open champion, and former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in three closely contested matches, before relegating to the reigning No. .7 in the world. Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the semi-final.

And on Saturday, he made another deep run, this time at the All England Open, where he ultimately fell to Indonesian Jonatan Christie 21-12, 10-21, 21-15 in the semi-final. What is of great importance is the fight he showed in previous rounds against two top 10 players, Anders Antonsen (world No. 3) and Lee Zii Jia (world No. 10). His calm temperament was evident against Antonsen when he trailed 2-8 in the decider, before prevailing. And once again at 19-19 in the third game against Zii Jia, where he held his nerve to win the match.

The current world No. 18 is in a good position to make the Olympic cut alongside his compatriot HS Prannoy, the world No. 8. Much more will be expected of Sen during the rest of the month, when he plays the Swiss Open, followed by the Spanish Masters.

The tattoos on his left arm read “Believe” and “Never Give Up.” And Sen will need a lot of that spirit to keep her momentum going.