Badminton

Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen has secured a place in the pre-quarters of the ongoing Paris Olympics after defeating Indonesia's Jonatan Christie in the men's singles Group L match. Sen's victory came in straight sets, 21-18, 21-12, in a match that lasted 50 minutes at the La Chapelle Arena.Sen dominated the match from the start, winning the first game 8-2. He continued his momentum in the second game, capitalizing on Christie's errors to close out the match. With this win, Sen topped the men's singles Group L and could potentially face HS Prannoy in the upcoming Round of 16 match.Sen's performance has been particularly impressive, with one of his backhand shots going viral on social media. Internet users have hailed the shot as "mad" and "god-like," inspiring budding badminton champions.Earlier in the tournament, Sen defeated Julien Carraggi of Belgium in straight sets, 21-19, 21-14. He also had a dominating win over Guatemala's Kevin Cordon, but the result was later deleted after Cordon withdrew from the Olympics due to an injury.Sen's success in the Paris Olympics is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has emerged as one of India's top badminton players and is expected to continue his winning streak in the upcoming matches.

Lakshya Sen's stunning victory over Jonatan Christie at the Paris Olympics has sent shockwaves through the badminton world. The Indian shuttler, ranked 22nd in the world, upset the third-seeded Indonesian, who is considered a favorite for the men's singles gold medal.Sen's triumph marks a significant milestone in his career, as he had previously lost four consecutive matches to Christie. The Indonesian has been in dominant form this year, winning the Asian and All England championships. However, Sen's determination and tactical brilliance proved too much for Christie on Wednesday.In the first game, Christie took an early lead but Sen fought back to level the score at 8-all. The Indian continued to attack the net and exploit Christie's errors, eventually winning the game 21-18.The second game was even more one-sided, as Sen gained confidence from his first-game victory. He built a solid lead at the mid-game interval and never looked back, winning 21-12.Sen's victory is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has consistently performed well on the big stage, including winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2022. His victory over Christie is a major boost for India's hopes of winning a badminton medal at the Paris Olympics.Meanwhile, PV Sindhu also advanced to the women's singles Round of 16 with a comfortable victory over Kristin Kuuba of Estonia. The double Olympic medalist won in just 34 minutes, barely breaking a sweat.Sindhu will face a tougher test in the next round when she takes on Chinese sixth seed He Bing Jiao. The two players have a close head-to-head record, with Sindhu winning the most recent encounter in the bronze medal playoff at the Tokyo Olympics.

Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen has made a strong start to his Paris Olympics campaign, securing a straight-sets victory over Belgium's Julien Carraggi in the Group L men's singles match. The 43-minute encounter at the La Chapelle Arena saw Sen overcome a four-point deficit in the first game and dominate the second, winning 21-19, 21-14.Sen's victory comes after a setback on Sunday when his win over Guatemala's Kevin Cordon was "deleted" due to Cordon's withdrawal from the Olympics due to a left elbow injury. As per BWF regulations, the result of the match was removed, and Sen's ranking will be determined based on his remaining two Group L matches.In the women's doubles, India's hopes suffered a blow as the pair of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa were defeated by the world number four Japanese duo of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida. The Indian pair lost 11-21, 12-21 in a one-sided Group C clash.Despite the setback in women's doubles, Sen's victory provides a boost to India's badminton campaign. The 22-year-old has shown impressive form, demonstrating his ability to overcome challenges and secure crucial wins. As he prepares for his remaining Group L matches, Sen will be aiming to continue his winning streak and secure a place in the knockout stages.

India's Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto's Olympic hopes suffered a major setback as they succumbed to a second consecutive defeat in the women's doubles badminton competition at the Paris Olympics. The Indian duo fell 11-21, 12-21 to the world number four Japanese pair of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida in a 48-minute Group C encounter.Ponnappa and Crasto, ranked 19th in the world, had earlier lost their opening match against South Korea's Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong. The two top-ranked pairs from each group qualify for the quarterfinals, leaving the Indians facing an uphill battle to advance."A bit disappointed because this was the only shot we had for a chance to get to the quarters," Ponnappa said after the match. "Not the way we wanted to play but they were very strong. I wish we had given them a better fight. We have one more match and hope we can win that."The Japanese duo dominated the match from the outset, taking control of the first game with a 4-0 lead. The Indians struggled to keep pace, with Crasto netting a long rally and Ponnappa's smash proving insufficient to challenge the Japanese.The second game followed a similar pattern, with the Japanese racing to a 7-1 lead. Crasto's finger injury further hampered the Indians' efforts, and the Japanese duo's quick court coverage and effective combination of power and placement proved too much for the Indian pair.Despite the setback, Ponnappa and Crasto remain determined to finish their Olympic campaign on a high note. "There's a lot to take away," Crasto said. "It builds my confidence as we are playing at such a high level and giving fight to each and every pair. It takes a lot of courage and confidence to play here in front of so many people. It's not over for us yet, hopefully we will be able to pull through."The Indians will face Australia's Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu in their final group game, with a victory essential to keep their Olympic hopes alive.

Lakshya Sen's victory over Guatemala's Kevin Cordon in the men's singles Group L match at the Paris Olympics has been nullified due to Cordon's withdrawal from the tournament due to a left elbow injury. As per BWF regulations for group stage play, the match between Lakshya and Cordon has been "deleted."Lakshya's ranking will now be determined by the results of his remaining Group L matches. He will face Julian Carragi on July 29. The decision has sparked controversy among fans, who have criticized it as "unfair" to Lakshya.Meanwhile, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made a strong start with a 21-17, 21-14 victory over France's Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar in Group C. However, Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto lost to Republic Korea's Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong in straight games in their group match.PV Sindhu also began her campaign with a dominant straight-game win against Maldives' Fathimath Abdul Razzaq, securing a 21-9, 21-6 victory. Speaking after the match, Sindhu expressed her satisfaction with her performance and emphasized the importance of mental strength in overcoming challenges.

Ace Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen made a resounding start to his Olympic campaign, dispatching reigning Pan American champion Kevin Cordon of Guatemala in straight games in their men's singles badminton group match at the Paris Olympics on Saturday.The 22-year-old Sen, making his Olympic debut, displayed his class and composure to overcome Cordon 21-8 22-20 in a match that lasted 42 minutes. The victory sets the stage for Sen to make a deep run in the tournament, having already established himself as one of the rising stars in the sport.Sen, who won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 2021 World Championships, dominated the first game against Cordon, showcasing his aggressive style of play and precise shot-making. He took the opening game with ease, 21-8.However, Cordon, a veteran of the sport, fought back in the second game, pushing Sen to the limit. The Guatemalan shuttler displayed his resilience and determination, forcing Sen to dig deep and find his best form. Despite Cordon's spirited comeback, Sen held his nerve and emerged victorious, winning the second game 22-20.Sen's victory is a testament to his hard work and dedication, and it bodes well for his chances of success in the tournament. He will face Julien Carraggi of Belgium in his second group match on Monday, and a win there would put him in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages.The Indian contingent will be hoping that Sen can continue his impressive form and bring home a medal from the Paris Olympics. His victory over Cordon has certainly raised expectations, and he will be one of the players to watch in the men's singles competition.

The Paris Olympics, scheduled for 2024, is fast approaching, and nations worldwide are eagerly announcing their flag bearers for the prestigious sporting event. Team USA has made a significant announcement, naming the legendary LeBron James as their male flag bearer. The grand ceremony will take place on Friday along the River Seine, with James representing the male contingent of Team USA. The female flag bearer will be revealed on Tuesday."It's an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially in a moment that can bring the whole world together," said James, the Los Angeles Lakers power forward, in a statement from the USOPC.India has also unveiled its flag bearers for the Paris Olympics: two-time Olympic medalist and 2019 World Champion in badminton, PV Sindhu, and veteran Table Tennis player Sharath Kamal. Sindhu, currently ranked World No. 12, has been a dominant force in Indian badminton for years. Her silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics against Spain's Carolina Marin made her the first Indian badminton player to reach the final of the showpiece event."I am also delighted to announce that India's only woman to win two Olympic medals, PV Sindhu, as the female Flag-bearer alongside Table Tennis ace A Sharath Kamal in the opening ceremony," said IOA president PT Usha.Japan has selected B-Boy Shigekix and fencer Emura Misaki as its flag bearers for the mega sporting event. Shigekix expressed his gratitude for the appointment, stating that it was a significant recognition not only for him but also for the entire breaking community.

Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen is gearing up for the Paris Olympics, which begin next week, with a focus on improving his net game and addressing his tendency to concede points late in matches. The world No. 19 has been drawn in a tough Group L alongside Indonesian rival Jonatan Christie (WR 3), Guatemala's Kevin Cordon (WR 41), and Belgium's Julien Carragi (WR 52).Sen has been working diligently on his overall game, including defense, attack, and net play. He has also been paying special attention to closing out matches strongly, an area where he has struggled in the past."We have focused a lot on overall improving the game and we had a good time for the last 6-7 weeks where I could really work on all the areas of the game," Sen said. "From defense to attack and overall, we have tried to get better at everything, and at the same time, worked a lot on the areas (in) which I was not really good at (and) maybe give extra time on the net game, the defense and also closing stages."Sen is also adjusting to the different shuttle movement in Marseille, France, where he is currently training. He expects similar conditions in Paris and believes it is important to be sharp and aggressive in the closing stages of matches."It is important to be sharp and be aggressive. (In the) last few days, we are still trying to get good match practice here, play short games and also have a good match practice session so that I am sharp towards the end of the game," Sen said.The 22-year-old is set to represent India in his first Olympics and is determined to top his group. He is confident in his preparation and believes he can perform at his best."I'm thinking about the first match and also winning the group because it's a quite a tough group. Overall I feel really prepared to go out there and perform my best and the training has been good," Sen said. "Now it's just a matter of going there, settling in, and being ready for each match. I'll just take one match at a time as of now and give my best at the Olympics."Sen is aware of the potential pre-quarterfinal clash with compatriot HS Prannoy but is focused on topping his group first."We have seen the draw. It is a potential pre-quarter final but there is a lot of work to do before that. I am really focused on topping the group right now and then let's see what happens," he said.

Indian badminton stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have been handed a favorable draw for the upcoming Paris Olympics, scheduled to commence on July 26. The duo, who have enjoyed a remarkable run of success in recent years, have been seeded third in the men's doubles event.Satwik and Chirag, both 27 years old, have established themselves as one of the top pairs in the world. They claimed the prestigious Thomas Cup gold medal in 2022, becoming the first Indian team to achieve this feat. They also secured the Commonwealth Games gold medal in the same year, further cementing their status as a formidable force in the sport.In the lead-up to the Olympics, Satwik and Chirag have continued to impress. They captured the 2023 Asia Championships title, followed by victories at the French Open Super 750 and Thailand Open Super 500 tournaments. They have also reached two more finals in 2024, showcasing their consistency and ability to perform at the highest level.In the Olympic draw, Satwik and Chirag have been placed in Group C. Their toughest opponents are likely to be the Indonesian pair of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto, who are currently ranked sixth in the world. The Indian duo will also face competition from the German combination of Mark Lamsfuss and Marvin Seidel (ranked 31st) and the French pair of Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar (ranked 43rd).The inclusion of Corvee and Labar in the draw was the result of a Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) hearing. The World Badminton Federation (BWF) had initially qualified 16 pairs for the men's doubles event, but CAS ordered the BWF to recommend to the International Olympic Committee that Corvee and Labar be included. This resulted in a revised 17-pair draw.Satwik and Chirag will be aiming to make a deep run in the Olympics and challenge for a medal. They have the experience, talent, and momentum to succeed on the biggest stage. Their favorable draw provides them with a good opportunity to advance to the knockout rounds and compete for a podium finish.