Paris: India’s Lakshya Sen progressed to the pre-quarterfinals of the Olympics men’s singles badminton competition with a stunning straight-game win over Indonesia’s world number 3 Jonatan Christie in the final group match here Wednesday.
The 22-year-old from Almora, a 2021 world championships bronze medallist, displayed great maturity and tactical acumen to outwit Christie, the reigning All England and Asian champion, 21-18 21-12 in what turned out to be a lop-sided contest.
Sen is likley to face compatriot HS Prannoy in the pre-quarterfinals. Prannoy will face Vietnam’s Le Duc Phat later in the day.
Sen had defeated Kevin Cordon, a Tokyo Olympics semifinalist, in the opening Group L match Sunday which was “deleted” after his Guatemalan opponent pulled out due to a left elbow injury.
Sen, a gold medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, then defeated Julien Carraggi of Belgium.