Lakshya Sen lost to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in the bronze medal match of the men’s singles badminton event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. After winning the first game, Sen could not maintain his advantage and ultimately lost the match 13-21, 21-16, 21-11. This defeat marked his second loss to Lee in the competitive circuit, despite an impressive run throughout the tournament culminating in a historic semi-final appearance for an Indian player.

Lakshya Sen, the Indian badminton player ranked 22nd, faced a disappointing defeat against Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in the bronze medal match at the Paris 2024 Olympics. In a closely contested game that lasted 71 minutes, Sen lost with scores of 13-21, 21-16, and 21-11, ultimately making him the first Indian badminton player to miss a men’s singles Olympic medal. Despite a strong start, Sen struggled to maintain his momentum, especially in the deciding game, compounded by an injury to his forearm.

The match began positively for Lakshya Sen, who held a 11-5 lead at the intermission of the first game after capitalizing on Lee Zii Jia’s errors and executing strategic plays. Sen exhibited commendable skill by winning four points in quick succession to close the game at 21-13. However, his performance faltered in the second game when Lee Zii Jia rallied to level the score and ultimately gained the advantage to win 21-16.

In the third game, Lee Zii Jia dominated early, racing to a 9-2 lead that put immense pressure on Sen. Although Sen made some efforts to recover, he was unable to close the gap, and Lee maintained a significant lead, sealing the match with a score of 21-11. This marked Sen’s second defeat to Lee Zii Jia, although he had previously triumphed over him at the All England Open earlier in the year.

Lakshya Sen’s Olympic journey included a heartbreaking loss to Viktor Axelsen, the gold medallist from Tokyo 2020, in the semi-finals after he had reached the bronze medal match by defeating Chou Tien-chen. His notable achievements in the tournament included being the first Indian shuttler to make it to the men’s singles semi-finals, surpassing the previous quarter-final finishes by Parupalli Kashyap and Kidambi Srikanth in earlier Olympics. In his Olympic debut, Sen impressively topped his group, defeating reigning All England champion Jonatan Christie and compatriot HS Prannoy.

The Paris 2024 Olympics represent a significant milestone for Indian badminton, with Lakshya Sen emerging as a formidable contender. He distinguished himself as the first Indian player to reach the men’s singles semi-finals at the Olympics, indicating the growing strength of badminton in India. Following his remarkable victories, including a previous win over Lee Zii Jia, expectations were high for Sen to secure an Olympic medal, especially given his Commonwealth champion status.

In conclusion, Lakshya Sen’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics showcased remarkable talent and resilience, though it ultimately fell short of securing a medal. His journey to the semi-finals and subsequent bronze medal match highlighted the significant strides made by Indian badminton on the international stage. Despite the setback against Lee Zii Jia and the disappointment of missing an Olympic medal, Sen’s achievements may inspire future generations of athletes in the sport.

Original Source: www.olympics.com

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