Lakshya Sen vs Zii Jia Lee LIVE, Badminton Men’s Singles Bronze Medal Match, Paris Olympics 2024: Lakshya Wins 1st Game

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Phenomenal start

Cometh the hour, cometh Lakshya. Must-win game for an Olympic medal, and Lakshya Sen has outclassed Lee Zii Jia comfortably so far in this contest. 

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: FIRST GAME LAKSHYA! 21-13

That is huge, that is absolutely monumental. This game went on for less than 20 minutes, and Lakshya wrapped it up with conviction.

One eye at bronze now. 

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Game point Lakshya!

20-13 now. The bronze dream is very much on. SEVEN GAME POINTS.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Two points from victory in game 1!

Lakshya Sen now leading 19-13. This has been a complete performance from the Indian so far.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: 3 points from first game win

Lakshya Sen takes a moment to catch his breath, and we’re going again. 18-12 to Lakshya now.

Lee challenges the umpire’s call, but Lakshya’s shot is IN.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: 17-12 to Lakshya

Lee Zii Jia’s game is topsy-turvy at the moment. The Malaysian is playing some good returns and smashes, but Lakshya continues to force the odd error here and there.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Lakshya up 15-10

The Indian still maintaining a sizeable gap over Lee Zii Jia. Lakshya just six points away from taking the crucial first game.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Will Lakshya be feeling the nerves?

Very similar circumstances to the semi-final vs Axelsen. Lakshya, much like the semi, has raced to a big lead. Can he hold on now, with recent history playing in his mind?

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Lee making a comeback?

Three points in a row for Lee. First,one of Lee’s best shots in a match where Lakshya has been on the front foot to make it 13-7. He then quickly makes it 13-8, and then wins out a long rally to make it 13-9.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Superb from Lakshya

Lakshya looks in incredible form. The Indian is making Lee Zii Jia stretch as much as he can, and earns a point through sheer power and precision. 13-6 to Lakshya.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Incredible support for Lakshya

Be it “Let’s go Lakshya” or “Jeetega bhai jeetega”, the Indian support has been phenomenal for Lakshya at the Paris Olympics 2024. Huge roars everytime Lakshya makes a good move.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Lakshya eyeing bronze

As the players take a breather, we remind you again that this is for an Olympic bronze medal. Lakshya Sen has had a superb tournament so far, and he has started this all-important match on the perfect note.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Lakshya leads first game at halfway

And Lakshya is the first to 11 points in the opening game. This has been a confident beginning by the young Indian, and he has forced Lee into a fair few errors.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: 10-4 Lakshya!

Lakshya, once again, is dominating the opening moments of this match. In the blink of an eye, the 22-year-old has raced to a 10-4 lead.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: 8-4 to Lakshya

The Indian makes a stunning recovery. Lakshya pulls out a shot that looked to be beyond his reach, and then slams it past Lee.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Pressure on Lee, Lakshya on top

Once again, Lee Zii Jia fires well outside the baseline to make it 7-3 to Lakshya. This time, however, he comes back with a fierce return in the next rally, to make it 7-4.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Lakshya has the momentum

6-2 lead now for Lakshya. Some not so great shots from Lee Zii Jia, the world no. 7. He seems to be under pressure and has fired wide three returns in a row.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Great start for Lakshya

Lakshya now leads 3-1 in the bronze medal match. Just the ideal start for Lakshya. “Let’s go Lakshya, let’s go” chanted by the fans.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: First point goes to Lakshya!

A terrific opening rally, goes on for a very long time, but Lee fires wide and Lakshya takes the point.

Repeat that for the next point too. 2-0.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Warmups done

And the warm-ups are done, and Lee Zii Jia will get us underway with the serve. A huge roar for Lakshya as his name is announced.

We are on!

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Pre-match warm-ups begin

Lakshya Sen and Lee Zii Jia practising their pre-match drills now. Just the few warmups, as customary, before a very, very crucial match. This is for the bronze medal.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Players enter the court

And the players are making their way in. Deafening cheer for Lakshya Sen from the Indian supporters at the La Chappelle Arena Court 1.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: FIVE MINUTE ALERT

We should be just five minutes away from the start of the badminton men’s singles bronze medal match. Lakshya Sen, this is your time to shine!

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Lakshya’s Paris 2024 so far

Let’s recap Lakshya’s tournament up to this point.

Group Stage:

vs Kevin Cordon: Won (21-8, 22-20)
vs Julien Carragi: Won (21-19, 21-14)

vs Jonatan Christie: Won (21-18, 21-12)

Knockout Stage:

vs HS Prannoy: Won (21-12, 21-6)

vs Chou Tien-chen: Won (19-21, 21-15, 21-12)

vs Viktor Axelsen: Lost (20-22, 14-21)

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Fire in his belly

Lakshya Sen must have a fire in his belly. In truth, the 22-year-old has shown remarkable skill, composure and fitness across the entire Paris Olympics. One defeat against Axelsen should not count those out.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Lakshya warming up

And here’s the first Live update from the La Chappelle Arena Court 1. Lakshya Sen is warming up pre-match, alongside Indian badminton legends Prakash Padukone and U. Vimal Kumar.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: What Lakshya is chasing

Lakshya is aiming to clinch India’s fourth successive Olympic medal in badminton.

London 2012: Saina Nehwal (bronze)

Rio 2016: PV Sindhu (silver)
Tokyo 2020: PV Sindhu (bronze)

Can Lakshya join the list?

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: More on Lee Zii Jia

Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia is four years older than Lakshya. He is a 2024 Thomas Cup bronze medalist in the men’s team event, and a 2022 Asian Championships men’s singles gold medalist.

Lee lost to Thai star Kunlavut Vitidsarn in straight games in the Paris 2024 semi.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: The manner of defeat

What made the semi-final defeat even more painful was how close Lakshya Sen got on multiple occasions. He had led the first game 18-13, and the second game 7-0, but both times, failed to capitalize on the advantage.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Speaking of victor…

Lakshya Sen suffered a heart-breaking defeat to Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the men’s singles semi-final. The 22-year-old lost to the reigning Olympic gold medalist 22-20, 21-14.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: History favours Lakshya

Lakshya Sen has faced Lee Zii Jia five times in his career, and has come out as the victor in four of those games. Therefore, the 22-year-old will be fancying his chances tonight.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Opponent details

Lakshya Sen will not have it easy. He is up against Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in the bronze medal match, a player who is currently ranked 7th in the world.

Lakshya Sen Olympics LIVE: Bronze medal match!

Hello everyone, this is a big day. Lakshya Sen is playing for bronze in the badminton men’s singles event at Paris Olympics 2024.