India’s Olympic badminton medal drought extended to 13 years as Lakshya Sen succumbed to a 13-21, 21-16, 21-11 defeat against Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in the men’s singles bronze playoff at the Paris Olympics.
Sen, ranked 22nd in the world, started brightly, taking the first game with ease. However, Lee, the seventh seed, fought back in the second game, using his superior reflexes and powerful smashes to level the match.
In the decider, Lee took control from the outset, leading 7-2. Sen’s body language betrayed his lack of confidence, and he made numerous errors. Lee extended his lead and eventually sealed the bronze medal with a body smash.
This was Malaysia’s second badminton medal of the Games, after Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik claimed bronze in men’s doubles. For India, it was a disappointing end to a tournament that had promised so much.
Sen’s loss marked the first time since 2008 that India had failed to win an Olympic badminton medal. Saina Nehwal had won a bronze in women’s singles in London 2012, while PV Sindhu had claimed silver and bronze in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021 respectively.
Despite the setback, Sen’s performance in Paris was a testament to his growing maturity and potential. The 21-year-old has established himself as one of the most promising young players in the world, and he will be determined to bounce back from this disappointment and challenge for medals in future tournaments.
