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Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen faced an unexpected setback after a surprising turn of events at the Paris Olympics 2024. Despite securing a commanding victory in his opening match against Guatemala's Kevin Cordon, Sen's point in the table has been nullified, dealing a significant blow to his campaign.
Lakshya Sen, making his Olympic debut, secured a hard-fought victory by defeating World No. 41 Kevin Cordon in straight games, 21-8, 22-20. This win was particularly notable as Cordon is a five-time Olympian and a semi-finalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Sen's triumph over such an experienced campaigner was a major confidence boost and earned him two valuable points in Group L. It was a much-needed win, setting his tone for the upcoming games.
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However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Kevin Cordon announced his withdrawal from the Paris Olympics on Sunday, July 28, due to a left elbow injury.
This decision meant that Cordon would not compete in his remaining Group L matches against Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie and Julien Carraggi of Belgium.
“As per BWF General Competition Regulations for group stage play, the results of all matches played, or yet to be played, involving Cordon in Group L are now considered deleted,” Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) statement read.
This rule, stated in the BWF General Competition Regulations for group stage play, led to the nullification of Sen's victory and the removal of the one point he had earned.
What is the impact of Kevin Cordon’s withdrawal on Lakshya Sen's Paris Olympics 2024 campaign?
The nullification of Lakshya Sen's points has significant implications for his progress in the tournament. In the Paris Olympics 2024 badminton singles category, only the top player from each group advances to the knockout stage.
Group L, which includes World No. 3 Jonatan Christie and World No. 52 Julien Carraggi, presents a challenging path for Sen, currently ranked World No. 18.
The deletion of his victory against Cordon means that Sen now faces a tougher battle to secure his place in the quarter-finals, particularly in his upcoming match against the highly-ranked Christie.
