Lakshya Sen Gears Up for Paris Olympics

Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen has been preparing intensively in Marseille, France for the upcoming Paris Olympics. He has focused on improving his overall game, particularly his net play and defense. Sen is set to compete in a challenging group and aims to perform at his very best.

Indian badminton sensation Lakshya Sen revealed on Friday that he has been diligently working on his net game and rectifying his tendency to concede points late in matches as part of his preparation in Marseille, France for the Paris Olympics commencing next week.

The world No 19 has been placed in Group L, alongside Indonesian rival Jonatan Christie (WR 3), Guatemala's Kevin Cordon (WR 41), who finished fourth in the Tokyo Olympics, and Belgium's Julien Carragi (WR 52).

"We have focused a lot on overall improving the game and we had a good time for the last 6-7 weeks where I could really work on all the areas of the game," Sen responded to a PTI query during a virtual interaction. "From defense to attack, we have tried to get better at everything, and at the same time, worked a lot on the areas in which I was not really good at, maybe giving extra time for the net game, the defense, and also closing stages."

Sen further stressed the importance of being sharp and aggressive. He mentioned that the final days of training in Marseille have been about incorporating short games and match practice to hone his readiness for the Olympics. The 22-year-old noted that adjusting to the shuttle movement near the sea in Marseille offers conditions similar to Paris, which will enhance his adaptability during the tournament.

Set to make his debut at the Olympics, Sen described it as the biggest tournament of his life. Concentrating on the first few matches, his focus is on winning his group despite the challenging draw. Sen remains determined to perform at his very best and bring his A-game to the prestigious sporting event.

(With inputs from agencies.)