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The Indian badminton team's journey at the Paris 2024 Olympics experienced a mixture of hope and disappointment on Thursday. While Lakshya Sen kept his medal aspirations alive with a convincing victory over fellow countryman H.S. Prannoy in the men's singles pre-quarterfinals, the strong medal contenders, the men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, faced an early exit in their last-eight encounter.
Sen, ranked 13th in the world, showcased his dominance over Prannoy, who is currently ranked 22nd. The match, which lasted for 39 minutes, was a one-sided affair with Sen displaying exceptional smashes and capitalizing on Prannoy's errors. He secured a comfortable five-point lead at the break in the first game and then efficiently extended his advantage to claim the set. In the second game, Sen's superior fitness allowed him to unleash powerful shots while Prannoy, still recovering from a chikungunya infection, struggled to keep pace and succumbed to unforced errors.
Sen, a World Championships bronze medalist, will now face another experienced competitor, Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei, in the quarterfinals. Chou, ranked 11th in the world, poses a formidable challenge for Sen. The encounter promises to be a fierce battle between two seasoned players with a history of competitive encounters. Prannoy, visibly emotional after his defeat, thanked his team for their support and left the arena wiping his tears.
The loss of Satwik and Chirag, the World No. 5 doubles pair, to the Malaysian duo of Chia and Soh, the World No. 3, delivered a significant blow to India's medal hopes. The match, a thrilling and tightly contested battle that lasted for 64 minutes, saw the Malaysian pair fight back from a first-game deficit to eventually triumph. Satwik and Chirag had previously won their last three encounters against Chia and Soh, leading to expectations of a dominant performance. However, the Malaysian pair showcased resilience and applied pressure on the Indians, forcing them to defend consistently. Despite a determined effort, Satwik and Chirag eventually succumbed to the pressure, culminating in their disappointing exit from the tournament.
The loss for Satwik and Chirag was particularly painful given the energy and excitement that surrounded the competition. The atmosphere in the arena was electric as the nearby court witnessed the Korean World champions, Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae, suffer a defeat against the Danish duo of Kim Astrup and Andres Rasmussen. The passionate Danish crowd erupted in celebration, creating a charged environment that seemed to fuel the Malaysians' performance. While Satwik and Chirag put up a valiant fight, they ultimately fell short of their target, highlighting the fine margins that exist in high-level competitions.
Satwik and Chirag expressed disappointment at their exit, acknowledging that mental fortitude played a crucial role in their defeat. They conceded that they were perhaps too focused on the significance of the match, leading to errors. The pair vowed to learn from their experience, reflect on their shortcomings, and return stronger for future competitions. The team's immediate focus will be to analyze the areas that need improvement and develop a comprehensive strategy to overcome similar challenges in the future.
Source: Paris 2024 Olympics, Indian Badminton wrap: Lakshya Sen’s medal chances still alive