Lakshya Sen at Paris Olympics 2024 Highlights & Score: Lakshya Sen falls agonisingly short of a podium finish, loses the bronze medal match to Lee Zii Jia in decider game

Lakshya Sen at Paris Olympics 2024 Highlights: Lakshya Sen loses the bronze medal match to Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in 3 games, goes down 13-21, 21-16, 21-11. Follow Sportskeeda for live updates on Lakshya Sen at the Paris Olympics 2024

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Agonizing end to what has been a historical campaign for Lakshya Sen! He goes down in three sets to WR-7 Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia with a scoreline of 21-13, 16-21, 11-21. Sen made a spectacular start to the match and looked as if he was making all the right moves to get onto the podium. The WR-22 took the first game comfortably with some aggressive gameplay catching the Malaysian off-guard.

Lee knew that he had made a slow start to the match and he slowly but surely started finding his feet in the second game. All of it started when the Malaysian was 3-8 down in the second side and then he managed to turn the tide with a run of 9 straight points to take a 4-point lead. This was a sign of things to come going forward in the match. Fortunes had changed as well with the net cords which were favoring the Indian in the first game were now falling in Lee's favor. The change of approach was noticeably evident with Lee looking to be much more proactive and taking charge of the rallies. Soon after, he leveled it up at one set apiece.

Things went into a decider and by then Lee had found his mojo. He did not allow the Indian to take control at any point and displayed some immense resolve as well as exceptional skills. Sen was also struggling with a bleeding elbow but more than that he had lost the plot and his body language was an evidence of that. Lee ran to the finish line and secured a place on the podium for himself leaving the Indian aghast.

Lakshya Sen can definitely hold his head high as he has managed to achieve what no other male Indian shuttler had done so far and even though he would not find himself on the podium he goes back as a much better player.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 3: Lakshya Sen (IND) 11 - 21 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-2] : Lee Zii Jia wins the bronze medal as he takes the decider in a 3-setter. The Malaysian finishes off the match in emphatic manner pushing the shuttle into Sen's body from above the net and Sen has no answers to it as he is undone by a player better than him on the day.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 3: Lakshya Sen (IND) 10 - 19 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-1] : The bronze medal is slipping away from Lakshya Sen. With each point, the Malaysian is firming his grip on the third place and Sen's body language is now looking down.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 3: Lakshya Sen (IND) 8 - 16 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-1] : Unreal athletic ability from Lee. He had no business winning the point but then he jumped full length from the back of the court to get to the drop shot from Sen and then the shuttle tickled over the net meaning Sen could do nothing with it.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 3: Lakshya Sen (IND) 7 - 15 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-1] : Sen looks to be losing the plot here. He is making a lot of soft errors now and Lee is running away with the match.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 3: Lakshya Sen (IND) 7 - 13 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-1] : Sen has pushed two shuttle long, the drift is in Lee's direction and the Indian seems to be struggling with it.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 3: Lakshya Sen (IND) 6 - 11 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-1] : 5-point lead for Lee Zii Jia at the final mid-game interval. Another whopping smash from Lee and Sen had no answers to it. The players will now switch ends with Sen playing with the drift, the Indian needs to take charge of the points here.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 3: Lakshya Sen (IND) 6 - 10 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-1] : Sen finds the line on the smash and successfully overturns the line judge's call

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 3: Lakshya Sen (IND) 5 - 10 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-1] : Sen had 3 points on the run but then Lee gets one in his favor after a marathon rally ending in Sen hitting the shuttle wide after he was made to defend for most parts. Sen receives some more medical attention on his arm as both the players look absolutely exhausted.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 3: Lakshya Sen (IND) 4 - 9 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-1] : A delightful crosscourt slice from Sen and he has the Malaysian lunging forward into a dive unsuccessfully. Another long rally follows and Lee smashes the shuttle into the net

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 3: Lakshya Sen (IND) 2 - 9 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-1] : Indecision at the back line from Sen and he just about plays the shuttle at the last moment and then Lee had the entire court to hit the shuttle into. Sen is in trouble

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 3: Lakshya Sen (IND) 2 - 8 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-1] : Lee is on a rampage. It almost looks like some other player was playing from the Malaysian side in the first game. Astonishing rally and all the luck is running in favor of the Malaysian as the entire crowd is now up on its feet.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 3: Lakshya Sen (IND) 2 - 4 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-1] : Lee is looking much more aggressive here even as he hits the smash wide. Well well, he is on the frontfoot and pounces on the shuttle to hit it into the Indian's body. Lee is looking in command now, Sen also seems to have a cut on his right arm.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 3: Lakshya Sen (IND) 0 - 1 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-1] : Lee starts off with a ripping smash and takes the first point of the final set. Sen had to stretch on both his sides and ended up lifting it short to set up a put away for Lee.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 2: Lakshya Sen (IND) 16 - 21 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-1] : We are going into a decider. Lee makes Sen travel the court again before hitting a steep smash in front of Sen which the Indian could manage to hit into the net. A 1-set shootout now for the Bronze Medal.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 2: Lakshya Sen (IND) 16 - 20 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-0] : Four games points for Lee. Sen pushes the shuttle long from the net and that sets up four opportunities for the Malaysian to take this game.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 2: Lakshya Sen (IND) 16 - 19 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-0] : Lee is the one making the move to the 21-point mark. Sen hit a beautiful crosscourt smash to get a point but there was a point for Lee on either side which sees him just 2 points away from leveling things up. The court is being mopped up as there is a slight halt

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 2: Lakshya Sen (IND) 15 - 17 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-0] : Sen loses a challenge after hitting the shuttle long and then a good judgement from Lee follows as he leaves the shuttle which just went wide. In the next point, Sen had Lee on the floor and the Malaysian still managed to return the shuttle while sitting on the floor but hit it into the net.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 2: Lakshya Sen (IND) 14 - 15 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-0] : This keeps going to-and-fro. None of the players have been able to run away with proceedings after the break and this turning out to be a very tight affair. Some high-class badminton is on display, that's for sure!

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 2: Lakshya Sen (IND) 12 - 12 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-0] : Now Sen is on a run of his own as he levels it all up. The Indian has been able to take charge of the rallies after the mid-game break and that has resulted in him winning 4 out of the 5 points played thereafter.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 2: Lakshya Sen (IND) 9 - 12 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-0] : The 9-point run for Lee comes to an end. A push from the net goes long for Lee and he challenges the call but loses it. Can Sen turn the tables?

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 2: Lakshya Sen (IND) 8 - 12 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-0] : How the fortunes have changed as the net dribble goes in the Malaysian's favor.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 2: Lakshya Sen (IND) 8 - 11 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-0] : 8 straight points for Lee and he makes a remarkable comeback to go into the mid-game interval with a 3-point lead. Lee has been able to completely flip the momentum and now he is running away with it as the break comes at the right time for the Indian. Sen needs to control the rallies just like he was doing before this run from Lee.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 2: Lakshya Sen (IND) 8 - 8 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-0] : Out of nowhere, Lee has leveled the scores. A fault from Sen at the net and then an absolute error in judgement at the back line and now the momentum is with Lee all of a sudden.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 2: Lakshya Sen (IND) 8 - 6 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-0] : Sen is in control of the proceeding here but Lee is giving it his all. He found a clean winner after what seemed like ages and then Sen hit one long. Lee then follows it up with a brilliant body smash and cuts down the deficit to just two.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 2: Lakshya Sen (IND) 7 - 3 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-0] : Another error from the Malaysian before a lucky net-dribble for Sen gives him another point. Lee finally gets a point after Sen makes an error.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 2: Lakshya Sen (IND) 5 - 2 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-0] : Lakshya Sen finds the steepest of smashes from high in the air as Lee dives full length on the floor and has a befuddled look on his face as he fails to get to the shuttle.

And then, a tight net exchange followed by Sen pouncing onto one early and hitting it into the body of Lee as if to say take that

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 2: Lakshya Sen (IND) 2 - 1 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-0] : Lakshya pushes the shuttle long before Lee pushes one long himself and decides to challenge the call and loses a challenge.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 2: Lakshya Sen (IND) 1 - 0 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [Game Score : 1-0] : An energy-sapping rally to start off the second game and Lee sends it long again as Vimal Kumar pumps his fists in the coaches' corner. A rally in which both the players travelled the entire length and breadth of the court.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 1: Lakshya Sen (IND) 21 - 13 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) : The first game goes to Lakshya Sen. Another rally which was dictated by Sen and he ended it with a push in to Lee's body which the Malaysian sent out of bounds. Lakshya Sen is just one game away now from a historic bronze medal as the players swap ends and Sen will now play with the drift.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 1: Lakshya Sen (IND) 20 - 13 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) : 7 game points for Lakshya Sen. He is making the Malaysian look like some ordinary player with his aggressive brand of play.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 1: Lakshya Sen (IND) 18 - 12 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) : Sen's push catches the back line and Lee loses a challenge. Sen just 3 points away from claiming the first game

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 1: Lakshya Sen (IND) 17 - 12 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) : Sen gets another point before Lee is back on the attack again making Sen dive on the floor to retrieve the shuttle and then playing a delightful drop shot to seal the point.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 1: Lakshya Sen (IND) 16 - 11 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) : 2 out of the last 3 points to Lee and it has been the attack of the Malaysian which has brought him points. The Malaysian is looking to make a comeback here.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 1: Lakshya Sen (IND) 15 - 9 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) : Sen pounces back. Makes Lee defend and controls another rally to win it in the end and then forces another error out of the Malaysian to increase his lead to 6.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 1: Lakshya Sen (IND) 13 - 9 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) : A brilliant winner from Lee and then two errors in judgement from Sen on the backline as Lee's clears fell in on consecutive points and all of a sudden Lee has 3 consecutive points.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 1: Lakshya Sen (IND) 13 - 6 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) : Sen is making Lee defend for his life. Another soft error by Lee followed by a rally in which Sen put himself in charge and tested Lee's defense before he got a short lift to dispatch.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 1: Lakshya Sen (IND) 11 - 6 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) : Sen's racquet catches the net on the follow-through after a tight net shot and the referee calls it a fault.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 1: Lakshya Sen (IND) 11 - 5 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) : Sen goes into the mid-game interval with a 6-point lead. Lee got one point courtesy of an error from Sen but then the Indian launched an all out attack with lethal smashes at Lee but the Malaysain was unfazed returning the shuttle every time, However, an error in judgement from the WR-7 saw him concede the point.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 1: Lakshya Sen (IND) 10 - 4 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) : Lee pushes the shuttle long yet again with the drift and post that a big smash from the Malaysian is sent across the net by Sen showing brilliant defense which forces Lee into another error, this time into the net.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 1: Lakshya Sen (IND) 8 - 4 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) : A brilliant net shot sets up a straightforward put away for Lee as he is looking to cut down the deficit. Well, Sen just clips the line on the back of the court with the Malaysian leaving the shuttle and the lead is 4 points for Sen again.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 1: Lakshya Sen (IND) 6 - 2 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) : Lee is committing far too many errors hitting the shuttle out of bounds in the early exchanges here and Sen has now forged a healthy 4-point lead.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Game 1: Lakshya Sen (IND) 0 - 2 Lee Zii Jia (MAS) : Sen has made a brisk start to the match. The first rally was a long one with the Malaysian hitting the shuttle wide followed by a shorter rally with the shuttle going long from Lee's racquet this time.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Both the players now go through their warmups with just the start moments away as the crowd watched on eagerly. The referee then introduces both the players and we are ready to roll

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

The flip of the coin goes Lee Zii Jia's way and he chooses his favored side on the court. Lakshya Sen, then, opts to receive the first shuttle.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Lee Zii Jia walks in first and is followed by India's own Lakshya Sen. Both the players have tremendous support in the stands with the arena absolutely buzzing.

Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - Bronze Medal Match

Badminton legend Lin Dan is in the arena as he taps the baton thrice on the floor, a French tradition that has been followed at Paris 2024 and the crowd roars as the players enter.

Less than 20 minutes to go before the match begins, take a look at our preview for the contest 👇 -

2024 Paris Olympics Badminton: Lakshya Sen vs Lee Zii Jia - preview and where to watch

Known for his aggressive smashes and a lethal backhand, Lee Zii Jia can be a tricky customer to face. Here's a read to tell you more about Sen's Malaysian opponent 👇 -