Lakshya Sen secured a spot in the quarter-finals of the men’s singles event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, defeating HS Prannoy in straight games on Thursday, 1 August. Competing at La Chapelle Arena’s Court 3, Lakshya showcased his dominance with a 21-12, 21-6 victory in just 39 minutes, marking an impressive debut at the Games.
The match began at a measured pace, with both players assessing each other’s strategies. However, Prannoy, visibly fatigued from his previous day’s three-game battle against Vietnamese Le Duc Phat, struggled to keep up. Additionally, Prannoy had been recovering from a bout of chikungunya earlier last month, which further impacted his performance.
In the first game, Lakshya quickly established a lead, going into the break ahead at 11-6. He continued to pressure Prannoy with strong defenses and powerful down-the-line smashes. Although Prannoy attempted a comeback with aggressive cross-court smashes, his unforced errors ultimately cost him the game, which he lost 21-12.
The second game saw a more decisive performance from Lakshya, who capitalized on Prannoy’s fatigue. Leading 11-3 halfway through, Lakshya maintained his momentum and closed out the game 21-6, ensuring his progression to the next round.
Lakshya’s quarter-final opponent will be Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen, a seasoned player ranked 7th in the world. Lakshya has faced Chou four times, with a record of 1-3. Their last encounter at the Singapore Open 2023 saw Chou win in a three-game match. Lakshya’s current form and determination, however, suggest a promising challenge ahead.