Paris Olympics: Lakshya Sen Advances to Quarter-Finals After Dominating HS Prannoy

Paris: In a standout performance at La Chapelle Arena’s Court 3 on Thursday, 22-year-old Lakshya Sen secured his spot in the quarter-finals of the men’s singles badminton event. Sen breezed past compatriot HS Prannoy with a decisive 21-12, 21-6 victory in just 39 minutes, marking his impressive debut at the Games.

Sen’s win was fueled by Prannoy’s noticeable fatigue, a result of his gruelling three-game match against Vietnamese player Le Duc Phat the previous day. Prannoy, who had also been battling chikungunya, struggled to keep up with Sen’s pace. Midway through the second game, with Sen leading 11-3, Prannoy appeared worn out and unable to mount a serious challenge, leading to his elimination from the tournament.

The match commenced with a slow rhythm as both players gauged each other’s tactics, including a 47-shot rally that highlighted their strategic play. Prannoy initially trailed 1-5, and despite some aggressive smashes, he couldn’t overcome Sen’s defensive skills. At the first game break, Sen led 11-6, and despite Prannoy’s attempts to counter with cross-court smashes, unforced errors cost him the game.

The second game saw Sen outshine Prannoy, who struggled with his energy levels and defensive capabilities. Sen capitalised on this, dominating the game and sealing his victory with a score under 10 points.

Lakshya Sen will next face Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen in the quarter-finals. Their past encounters have been closely contested, with Sen holding a 1-3 record against the seasoned player. Their most recent meeting was at the Singapore Open 2023, where Chou triumphed in a three-game match.