Lakshya Sen made a triumphant Olympic debut, defeating former Tokyo Olympics semifinalist Kevin Cordon of Guatemala. The young Indian shuttler showcased his talent with a commanding 21-8, 22-20 victory in a Group L match of the men's singles badminton event at the Paris Olympics 2024 on July 27.
Lakshya Sen guns down Kevin Cordon
Competing in Group L, Sen displayed resilience by recovering from a second-game loss to secure the win at Paris' Porte de la Chapelle Arena. His next match is scheduled for July 29. The young Indian displayed dominance throughout the match, controlling the pace and outmaneuvering his opponent. Lakshya secured a dominant victory in just 42 minutes, defeating Kevin Cordon. This victory marks Lakshya's second win over Cordon, having previously defeated him at the 2021 World Championship. Lakshya earlier defeated Cordon with a scoreline of 21-13, 21-8 at the 2021 World Championship in 2021. However, the challenge is far from over. Lakshya will next face Jonatan Christie, a formidable opponent who has given him trouble in the past, as well as Julien Carraggi.
Lakshya started the match with a bang, racing to a 6-0 lead in the first game. His confidence was evident as he continued to dominate, reaching 11-2 by the interval. A combination of strong defense and lethal cross-court smashes propelled Lakshya to a decisive 21-8 victory in the opening game.
The second game proved to be a tougher challenge for Lakshya. Poor service allowed Kevin to take an early lead. After falling behind by 2-3 points due to net smashes, Lakshya regained his composure and closed the gap to 5-6.
Kevin held a strong lead of 11-7 in the second game, hinting at a potential decider. However, Lakshya staged a remarkable comeback. With powerful smashes and solid defense, he fought back from 11-16 to close the gap to 16-20. Unfazed by being game point down, Sen displayed incredible resilience, winning the next four points to clinch the match 22-20.
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