"Blood On The Floor": Lakshya Sen Reveals Why He Lost Momentum To Finish 4th In Paris Olympics Badminton

Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen suffered an inexplicable meltdown and missed out on an Olympic medal, going down in three games to Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in the bronze play-off at the Paris Games on Monday. A fired-up Sen was unstoppable in the beginning but a nine-point streak from Lee in the second game changed the complexion of the match as the world number 7 Malaysian registered a 13-21 21-16 21-11 win in a 71-minute clash to secure the bronze.

"I had my chances in the second set and could have definitely done better. But credit to him, he played a really good game. I think at the moment I'm just not able to think right now," a crestfallen Sen said after the match.

"I came well prepared for this match as well. It has been quite a tough week overall. But yeah, the fatigue kept on building. But I mean, I was ready to give my 100 per cent in this match." 

Sen, who needed medical attention multiple times for a injured right arm, looked indomitable in the first 30 minutes but once Lee gathered himself from a position where he was down by a game and trailing 3-8 in second, the Indian did not seem to have a plan 'B'.

Sen need to replace his bandage, which was covered an injury, thrice during the match, leading to multiple stoppages in play.

The Indian said it affected his momentum.

"In between the points there was blood was on the floor so they had to wipe it. Sometimes, I was losing the momentum of just having a break in the game and then coming again and trying to refocus on the match. But overall the hand is okay," he said.

His loss means that it would be the first time in 12 years that India will return without a badminton medal from the Olympics.

Only Saina Nehwal (2012) and PV Sindhu (2016, 2021) have won Olympic medals