
In a heartbreaking turn of events at the Paris Olympics 2024, India’s rising badminton star Lakshya Sen narrowly missed out on a bronze medal, losing to Malaysia’s Zii Jia Lee (world no. 7) in a closely contested match. The defeat marks the end of Sen’s historic Olympic run, where he became the first Indian male shuttler to reach the semifinals.
Sen started strong, clinching the first set and building an early lead in the second. However, the tide turned dramatically as Lee mounted a comeback. Despite leading 8-3 in the second game, Sen ultimately lost the set 21-16. The final set saw Sen trailing from the outset, with the score at 11-6 at the halfway mark, eventually falling 21-13.
Adding to the drama, Sen suffered a minor injury during the second and third sets, with visible blood on the court. The Indian shuttler showed tremendous grit, continuing to play with a bandage, but couldn’t overcome the world no. 7.
This loss comes on the heels of Sen’s semifinal defeat, making it a double blow for the young athlete who had raised hopes for India’s fourth medal at the Paris Olympics. Prior to this match, Sen had already etched his name in Indian Olympic history by becoming the first male shuttler from the country to reach the Olympic semifinals in badminton.
Sen’s achievement follows in the footsteps of female shuttlers Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu, both of whom had previously secured Olympic medals for India. While Sen couldn’t add to India’s medal tally, his performance throughout the tournament has been nothing short of remarkable.
As it stands, India’s medal count at the Paris Olympics 2024 remains at three, all bronze. Sen’s valiant effort, despite falling short of the podium, will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of Indian badminton players and serve as a stepping stone for future Olympic success.