Paris Olympics: Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen misses bronze medal
What's the story
Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen missed an elusive medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 22-year-old lost to Malaysian seventh seed Lee Zii Jia 21-12, 16-21, 11-21 in the badminton men's singles bronze medal match. Sen could have been the first-ever Indian male badminton player with a medal at the Olympic Games. Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu remain India's only Olympic medalists in badminton.
Match
Here's how the match panned out
Sen engaged in some brilliant rallies in the match's initial moments. The Indian perturbed Zii Jia with ferocious smashes. He was 11-5 up going into the break. Sen was all over Zii Jia in the second half. Sen, in the second game, led 8-2 before Zii Jia bounced back. The latter retaliated and won consecutive points to seal the game.
Record
Sen fails to secure a historic medal
Sen could have been the first Indian man to win a clinch a medal in badminton at the Olympics. Nehwal brought home India's first-ever Olympic medal in the sport at the 2012 London Games. She clinched the bronze medal. Her compatriot Sindhu then secured back-to-back medals at the Olympics (silver in 2016 Rio and bronze in 2020 Tokyo).
Journey
Sen's journey at Paris Olympics
Sen defeated Kevin Cordon in his first match, however, the result was 'deleted' after Cordon pulled out of the Paris Games. Sen first defeated Julien Carraggi and Jonatan Christie to earn the last 16 berth. The Indian shuttler overcame his compatriot HS Prannoy to reach the quarter-finals. Sen defeated China's Chou Tien Chen to make the semis, where he lost to Denmark's Viktor Axelsen.
History
A first for India at Olympics
Sen came from behind to overcome 34-year-old Tien Chen in quarter-finals. It was a closely-fought contest as Chen took the first game 21-19. The former eventually became India's first-ever male shuttler to reach the semi-finals at the Olympics. Only two other Indian male shuttlers have reached the last eight at the Games - Srikanth Kidambi (2016) and Parupalli Kashyap (2012).