“Want To Be the Virat Kohli of Indian Badminton”: Lakshya Sen’s Ambitious Statement

Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen delivered a remarkable performance at the Paris Olympics 2024, becoming the first Indian male player to reach the badminton semi-finals at the Olympics. However, his journey ended just short of the podium. In the semi-finals, he faced the top seed Viktor Axelsen, which dashed his hopes of competing in the gold medal match. Lakshya then went on to play against Lee Zii Jia in the bronze medal match but narrowly missed out on securing the medal. Despite not clinching an Olympic medal, Lakshya’s performances garnered widespread admiration.

In a recent interview on The Ranveer Show podcast, Lakshya expressed his aspiration to become the “Virat Kohli of Indian badminton in the coming years.” He acknowledged the significant impact Kohli has had on Indian cricket and stated, “Why not? I mean, but again, he’s done a lot for Indian cricket. Yes, I want to be the Virat Kohli of Indian badminton in the coming years.”

Lakshya also spoke about his relationship with Viktor Axelsen, the gold medallist in both Tokyo and Paris. Lakshya shared that Axelsen has been a source of inspiration for him, not only for his achievements on the court but also for the way he conducts himself off the court. Lakshya mentioned their time training together in Dubai, where they spent two weeks practicing and playing together. Reflecting on his semi-final match against Axelsen, Lakshya noted, “I had him in the match. I have also beaten him in the past. These kinds of things motivate me that yes, I’m on the right track, but again a lot of work is there.”

Axelsen, on his part, has been highly complimentary of Lakshya’s talent and potential. Following their Olympic encounter, Axelsen praised Lakshya, calling him an “amazing player” and a “very strong competitor.” He expressed confidence in Lakshya’s future prospects, predicting that in four years, Lakshya will be one of the top contenders for the gold medal. Axelsen added, “Lakshya is an amazing talent and a great guy, and I wish him all the best.”

Although Lakshya missed out on an Olympic medal this time, his performances in Paris have established him as one of the rising stars of Indian badminton. His determination, ambition, and the experience he has gained competing against the world’s best will undoubtedly serve him well as he continues to chase his dreams of greatness on the global stage.