Paris, Aug 1 (UNI) In a badminton bout that had all the drama of a blockbuster, Lakshya Sen served up a flawless performance against HS Prannoy, sending him packing and securing a place in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics.
Sen’s 21-12, 21-6 victory was as smooth as a well-placed drop shot and as decisive as a smash at the net.
Held at the La Chapelle Arena on Thursday, the match was a masterclass in how to handle an opponent with style and flair. Sen, a two-time Youth Olympics medallist, demonstrated why he’s the hottest name in badminton. His game lasted a brisk 39 minutes, with Prannoy barely having time to catch his breath before the scoreboard flashed the final numbers.
Sen’s triumph not only advances him to the next round but also boosts his head-to-head record against Prannoy to 5-3. It’s the first time Sen has outplayed Prannoy on the Olympic stage—talk about a grand debut.
Earlier in the tournament, Sen had already impressed by dispatching Jonatan Christie and Julien Carraggi in Group L.
Meanwhile, Prannoy, who had his own impressive run in Group K, was left flailing in Sen’s wake. As they say, it’s not the size of the shuttlecock but how you play the game.
Looking ahead, Sen will face Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals tomorrow. Fans can only hope that Chen has been practicing his defensive skills and Sen is looking unstoppable.
In other Olympic news, PV Sindhu, India’s very own badminton superstar, will be hitting the court tonight at 10:00 PM IST. She is set to face He Bingjiao of China, and if her past performances are anything to go by, it’s going to be a match worth watching.
Scores: Lakshya Sen (IND) defeated HS Prannoy (IND) 21-12, 21-6. Sen advances to the quarterfinals.
UNI BDN GNK