Lakshya Sen won the first game, but squandered an 8-3 lead in the second game, and went on to lose the match.
Lakshya Sen‘s dreams of capturing an Olympic medal at his first Games were dashed after he fell to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in three games during Monday’s bronze playoff match. The Almora native, 22, wasted a one-game lead as the seventh-ranked player in the world. Lee launched his onslaught in time to win 13-21, 21-16, 21-11, and take home the bronze. “In the second set, I had my opportunities and could have performed much better. To his credit, though, he had a great game. After the game, a dejected Sen stated, “I think I’m just not able to think right now.”
“I also arrived for this match well-prepared. In general, this week has been really difficult. However, the weariness persisted. However, I was prepared to give this match my all.” If he loses, India will not return from the Olympics with an Olympic badminton medal for the first time in twelve years.
The youthful player did, however, record a first in his first-ever Games performance.
As India’s first male shuttler to make it to the Olympic semifinals, the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist and bronze medallist from the global championships in 2021 signed off.
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