Lakshya Sen Loses Bronze Medal to Lee Zii Jia at Paris Olympics 2024

Lakshya Sen Loses Bronze Medal to Lee Zii Jia at Paris Olympics 2024 

India's Olympic Medal Hopes Dashed in Badminton:

India's quest for an Olympic medal in badminton ended in disappointment as Lakshya Sen lost the bronze medal match to Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia. 

This defeat marked the first time since 2008 that India’s badminton team did not secure an Olympic medal.

A Hard-Fought Battle:

The intense match took place at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena in Paris. World No. 7 Lee Zii Jia defeated the unseeded Indian player Lakshya Sen in three games, with scores of 13-21, 21-16, 21-11. 

The match lasted an hour and 11 minutes. This loss was Lakshya’s second defeat in six matches against the Malaysian.

Historical Context of Indian Badminton in Olympics:

India has a notable history in Olympic badminton, with Saina Nehwal being the first to win a medal—a bronze in women's singles at London 2012. PV Sindhu followed with a silver in Rio 2016 and a bronze in Tokyo 2021.

Early Lead for Lakshya Sen:

Lakshya Sen started strong, taking advantage of Lee’s nervousness and errors to lead 6-2 early in the first game. Despite a few wrong line calls, Lakshya maintained his momentum to win the first game convincingly.

Coaching Advice and Second Game Struggles:

During the break, Coach U Vimal Kumar and badminton legend Prakash Padukone advised Lakshya to stick to his style and aim to finish the match in two games. 

Following this advice, Lakshya began the second game energetically, taking an 8-3 lead. However, Lee Zii Jia fought back fiercely, winning nine consecutive points to overturn the lead and ultimately winning the second game.

Decisive Third Game:

In the final game, Lee Zii Jia quickly took a 7-2 lead. Lakshya’s confidence seemed to wane as he made several errors. 

Lee maintained his dominance after the interval, securing the win with a powerful body smash, earning him the bronze medal.

Malaysia's Success in Badminton:

This bronze was Malaysia’s second medal in badminton at the Paris Olympics 2024, following Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik’s bronze in men’s doubles.

Conclusion:

Despite a valiant effort, Lakshya Sen fell short in his quest for an Olympic medal. His initial strong performance and early lead showcased his potential, but Lee Zii Jia's resilience and strategic play ultimately secured the win. 

This result ends India’s badminton medal streak at the Olympics, highlighting the fierce competition and the fine margins that can determine victory and defeat at the highest level of the sport.

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