In a compelling all-Indian showdown at the Paris Olympics, rising badminton star Lakshya Sen defeated veteran HS Prannoy in the men’s singles Round of 16 on Thursday. The 22-year-old Sen, currently ranked 22nd in the world, secured a decisive 21-12, 21-6 victory over the 13th-ranked Prannoy.
Sen’s youthful dynamism proved too much for the experienced Prannoy to handle. The younger player got off to a blistering start, quickly establishing a 5-1 lead. Though Prannoy attempted to close the gap, Sen maintained control throughout the match, wrapping up the first game 21-12 in just 21 minutes.
The second game saw Sen completely dominate, racing to a 10-3 lead before the mid-game interval. He continued his relentless pace, closing out the match with a commanding 21-6 win in the second set.
While Sen’s victory keeps India’s medal hopes alive in the singles event, the country faced disappointment in the men’s doubles. The world number three pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty saw their Olympic journey end in the quarter-finals, losing 21-13, 14-21, 16-21 in a hard-fought match.
Looking ahead, Sen is set to face 12th-seeded Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei in the quarter-finals on Friday.
(Inputs from ANI)
