Lakshya Sen's Disappointing Olympic Journey: "Asks for Space and Privacy"

LAKSHYA SEN SUMS UP HIS DISAPPOINTING OLYMPIC JOURNEY

NEW DELHI: Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen’s Olympic quest ended in heartbreak as he narrowly missed out on the bronze medal in the men’s singles event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite a determined effort, Sen finished fourth after a grueling 21-13, 16-21, 11-21 defeat to Malaysia's Zii Jia Lee in the bronze medal match on Monday. 

Reflecting on his Olympic experience, Sen expressed gratitude to his supporters and acknowledged the disappointment of falling just short. In a heartfelt post on X, he shared, "Hi everyone! My journey at the Paris 2024 Olympics has been both an honor and a heartbreak. I gave my all, fought with every ounce of strength, but fell just short of the podium. I am very grateful to all the supporters for their unwavering support."

He added, "I am determined to reflect on what went wrong and where I need to improve. I sincerely request space and privacy at this time to regroup, come back stronger, and win laurels for India."

Sen, who was on the verge of becoming the first Indian male shuttler to win an Olympic singles medal, started strong by winning the first set 21-13 with a commanding performance. His defensive skills and precise smashes kept Jia on the defensive, allowing Sen to control the pace and exploit his opponent’s mistakes.

However, the second set saw the momentum shift. Although Sen initially led 8-3, Jia fought back aggressively and won the set 21-16. Jia’s relentless attacks and strategic shot placement proved challenging for Sen, who struggled to regain his rhythm.

In the deciding set, Jia dominated from the outset, building a 9-2 lead. Sen attempted to close the gap, narrowing the deficit to 6-11 before the mid-game break, but Jia’s relentless smashes and court control proved too much for Sen. The set ended 21-11 in Jia’s favor, denying Sen the bronze medal.