Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen suffered an inexplicable meltdown and missed out on an Olympic medal, taking place in three video games to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia within the bronze play-off on the Paris Video games on Monday. A fired-up Sen was unstoppable to start with however a nine-point streak from Lee within the second sport modified the complexion of the match because the world quantity 7 Malaysian registered a 13-21 21-16 21-11 win in a 71-minute conflict to safe the bronze.
“I had my probabilities within the second set and will have positively finished higher. However credit score to him, he performed a very good sport. I believe for the time being I am simply not capable of assume proper now,” a crestfallen Sen stated after the match.
“I got here nicely ready for this match as nicely. It has been fairly a tricky week general. However yeah, the fatigue saved on constructing. However I imply, I used to be prepared to present my 100 per cent on this match.”
Sen, who wanted medical consideration a number of occasions for a injured proper arm, regarded indomitable within the first half-hour however as soon as Lee gathered himself from a place the place he was down by a sport and trailing 3-8 in second, the Indian didn’t appear to have a plan ‘B’.
Sen want to exchange his bandage, which was coated an damage, thrice through the match, resulting in a number of stoppages in play.
The Indian stated it affected his momentum.
“In between the factors there was blood was on the ground in order that they needed to wipe it. Generally, I used to be dropping the momentum of simply having a break within the sport after which coming once more and making an attempt to refocus on the match. However general the hand is okay,” he stated.
His loss implies that it will be the primary time in 12 years that India will return and not using a badminton medal from the Olympics.
Solely Saina Nehwal (2012) and PV Sindhu (2016, 2021) have gained Olympic medals for India on the greatest sporting stage with the latter’s silver in Rio being one of the best efficiency.
The medal-favourite males’s doubles pair of Satwaiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty had additionally returned empty-handed as India’s badminton marketing campaign ended on a disappointing be aware.
A key member of the Indian badminton staff and part of the historic Thomas Cup successful squad, Sen was gunning to turn out to be India’s first male shuttler to win an Olympic medal.
The match started with an extended rally however Sen hit high gear early. The Indian largely performed on the backhand aspect of his rival, logging straightforward factors as there was no battle in any respect.
The calculated drop photographs arrange straightforward factors for Sen as he drew his rival on the forecourt. Even the Malaysian tried to play on backhand of Sen however the India was hardly perturbed, main 11-6 on the break.
There was no sting or intent in Lee’s photographs as he simply performed very defensive and was catching as much as erase the deficit which was growing with every shot.
The one sensible play by the Malaysian was when he jumped for an overhead smash however dropped the shuttle ahead, catching Sen incorrect footed after which got here up with a winner in open court docket.
Sen closed the primary sport when he hit a lightning quick backhand and Lee’s return sailed over the baseline.
The second sport additionally began on an analogous be aware as very quickly, Sen zoomed to a 8-3 lead after peppering Lee on his backhand.
Sen appeared to be pulling away however then there was a twist within the story when he misplaced 9 straight factors permitting the Malaysian to fightback into the competition.
There have been returns, physique smash and most significantly an intent from Lee who started transferring the Indian on either side of the court docket.
From 3-8, the Malaysian made it 12-8 and ran away with the sport, forcing a decider.
Lee made a strong begin to the sport with ferocious smashes and continued with the technique to run away with the sport and match as Sen’s assault utterly fell aside.
Even when Sen was in an advantageous place to kill the purpose, like at 2-7, he couldn’t with Lee making unbelievable restoration and motion along with his reflexes and highly effective photographs.
A commanding 9-4 lead and momentum on his aspect, Lee saved going onerous at Sen, who was struggling to return the smashing returns. It resulted in the identical vogue, as Lee despatched a physique smash which the Indian couldn’t return.
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