Indian badminton's hopes at the Paris Olympics were dashed as star shuttler Lakshya Sen failed to secure a podium finish in the bronze medal match, leaving the Indian contingent without a badminton medal for the first time in over a decade. The loss marks a significant setback for Sen and the broader Indian badminton landscape.

Lakshya Sen's tremendous effort in a devastating outcome demonstrated how difficult it is to master and why the biggest names, from Pullela Gopichand to Kidambi Srikanth, and now Lakshya Sen, have not been able to do so. Indian men's badminton remains medal-less. The fact that Lakshya Sen failed miserably on two separate days makes PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal—who succeeded on equally challenging fields—even more deserving of praise.

For Lakshya Sen, the loss is a significant setback in his career trajectory. However, at just 22, he still has time to bounce back and build on his experience. The focus will now be on how he, along with other emerging talents like Kidambi Srikanth and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, can regroup and prepare for upcoming tournaments and the next Olympic cycle.

For Lakshya Sen, the immediate focus will likely be on overcoming the disappointment and using this experience as a stepping stone. With several major tournaments lined up, including the World Championships and the Asian Games, Sen will have opportunities to redeem himself and prove his mettle.