Indian badminton stars PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen secured their places in the pre-quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics with commanding victories on Wednesday.
PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen shine
Sindhu, aiming for an unprecedented third Olympic medal, breezed past Estonia’s Kristin Kuuba with a decisive 21-5, 21-10 win. The 2016 silver medalist and 2021 bronze medalist showed her prowess in a quick 33-minute match, underscoring her intent to continue her Olympic journey. Sindhu will likely face China’s He Bingjiao in the next round, a familiar opponent against whom she has a mixed record of nine wins and eleven losses.
Meanwhile, Lakshya Sen delivered a stellar performance, defeating Indonesia’s world number 4 Jonatan Christie 21-18, 21-12. The 22-year-old from Almora displayed exceptional tactical skill, overcoming a 1-4 head-to-head deficit with Christie. Sen’s aggressive play and strategic flat shots kept Christie on the defensive throughout the match.
Sen is expected to face world number 13 HS Prannoy in an all-Indian clash, while Sindhu’s next opponent, He Bingjiao, will pose a significant challenge. Prannoy is set to compete against Vietnam’s Le Duc Phat later in the day.
Sindhu and Sen’s strong performances highlight India’s growing strength in badminton on the global stage, setting the stage for exciting encounters in the upcoming rounds of the Paris Olympics.
