Viktor Axelsen, the reigning Olympic champion and world number one, may hold a 7-1 record against Lakshya Sen, but he’s not taking the Indian lightly heading into their Olympic semifinal matchup. While Sen’s form leading up to the Games wasn’t stellar, with a modest 15-10 win-loss record, he pushed Axelsen to three games at the Singapore Open before ultimately falling 13-21, 21-16, 13-21.
“My personal coach (and also father-in-law Henrik Rohde) were discussing before the Olympics who could be the real threat in the tournament and we both agreed that the real dark horse would be Lakshya. The last time I met him, we had a tough fight and when I spoke to my coach, we both felt he was a real contender at the Olympics,” says Axelsen, highlighting the respect he has for Sen’s capabilities.
Sen has actually gotten the better of Axelsen once – in a closely fought three-game match at the German Open two years ago. Despite this, the two share a mutual respect, with Axelsen even inviting Sen to train with him in Dubai a few years back. “It was a pleasure for us to have Lakshya train along with us. I also remember he was in Denmark playing in Aarhus with (former player) Morten Frost for a little bit. We know him quite well and we are happy he’s been able to make it to the Olympic semifinals. I was always hopeful he would do well at this level,” says Rohde, further emphasizing the respect they hold for Sen’s talent.
However, the semifinal is where Axelsen hopes to end Sen’s run. While acknowledging the challenge posed by Sen’s defensive skills and work ethic, Axelsen is confident in his abilities. “I know he’s a great guy. I know his family is very supportive and has played a big role in his success. I’m very happy to see him succeed. But I look forward to beating him,” said Axelsen, revealing his determination to secure the victory.
