Paris Olympics 2024: Blood, Sweat and Tears Not Enough as Lakshya Sen Falls at the Threshold of His Goal

Lakshya Sen failed to become the first Indian to win a medal in the men’s badminton tournament at the Olympics as he lost in three games to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in the bronze playoff at the 2024 Paris Summer Games on Monday.

A case of nerves seemed to be playing in Lakshya’s mind in his loss in the semifinals against Viktor Axelsen but that did not seem to be the case in the bronze medal match. Lakshya Sen also had a lot in his favour as he held a 4-1 head-to-head advantage against his Malaysian opponent going into Monday’s match.

The 22-year-old from Almora squandered a one-game advantage and with injury to his right arm worsening through the match, world number 7 Lee found his attack just in time to register a 13-21, 21-16, 21-11 win to secure the bronze.

His loss means that it would be the first time in 12 years that India will return without a badminton medal from the Olympics.

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However, the youngster did get a first against his name in his maiden Games appearance. The 2021 World Championships bronze and 2022 Commonwealth Games gold-winner signed off as India’s first male shuttler to reach the Olympic semifinals.

Lakshya Sen – Major Achievements

• World Championships: Bronze Medal (Men’s Singles, 2021)
• Commonwealth Games Gold, 2022
• Thomas Cup Winner, 2022 (Men’s Team)

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So, Who is Lakshya Sen?

Lakshya had announced himself to the World stage in 2014 when he triumphed at the Swiss Junior International. Three years later, he emerged as the number one junior player in the BWF world rankings. He won the Asian Junior Championship in 2018 by defeating top-seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn. He then won a silver medal at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires later that year.

Lakshya started to make waves at the senior level in 2019 when he secured his first BWF Tour title at the Dutch Open. He also won the men’s singles title at the SaarLorLux Open and the Scottish Open the same year.

He became the fourth Indian player to clinch a badminton world championship medal, winning bronze after losing the semi-final match to compatriot Kidambi Srikanth.

The youngster reached the highest point of his career in 2022. Lakshya won his maiden BWF Super 500 title at the India Open before finishing second at the All England Open Badminton Championships.

Lakshya was part of the Indian team that beat Indonesia in the 2022 Thomas Cup final and three months later, he claimed a Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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