Olympic newcomers Lakshya Sen and Swapnil Kusale made a stunning impression in Paris. Lakshya advanced by defeating world No. 4, while Kusale set a new record in shooting.
Lakshya Sen’s Remarkable Performance
Badminton player Lakshya Sen faced a tough group stage draw but rose to the challenge at the 2024 Paris Games on Wednesday. He moved into the knockouts by defeating world No. 4 and reigning All England champion Jonatan Christie with scores of 21-18, 21-12, emerging victorious from a highly competitive group in the men’s singles event.
Swapnil Kusale’s Record-Breaking Feat
Shooter Swapnil Kusale secured seventh place in the 50m men’s rifle 3 positions qualification, setting a new Olympic record of 594, with Kusale scoring 590. Tied with three other competitors, he advanced due to his higher number of inner 10s (38). The Maharashtra native now aims for a medal in the 50m rifle 3 positions event, a feat no Indian shooter has yet achieved, as he competes among the top eight in the final on Thursday at Chateauroux.
Lakshya Sen’s Path to Victory
Lakshya’s journey began with a victory against Kevin Cordon, though this match was later voided after Cordon withdrew from the tournament. Facing critical matches with no room for error, Lakshya triumphed over Belgian Julien Carraggi and then Christie, against whom he previously held a 1-4 record. This breakthrough performance sets him up as a formidable contender in the knockouts, starting with the Round of 16.
Reflecting on his performance, Lakshya said, “Today’s match gives me a lot of confidence going forward. Now is the time to reflect, take the positives from these matches, and see what I can improve. I’ll come back fresh and do my best in the Round of 16.”
That lightning-fast backhand shot by an ice-cold Lakshya Sen is a moment of pure sporting magic, destined to be etched in memories of fans for years to come!#LakshyaSen #Badminton #makingindiaproud #Paris2024 #ParisOlympics #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/esA1qjKMD0
— The Better India (@thebetterindia) July 31, 2024
Swapnil Kusale’s Journey
Soft-spoken Swapnil Kusale’s journey in shooting began at the state-run Krida Prabodhini in Pune. His qualification for the final is a significant milestone in a career marked by near-misses due to one errant shot. In previous major finals, Kusale finished fourth twice. At the Hangzhou Asian Games, he was on track for a historic gold before a low 7.6 score dashed his hopes. In the Cairo World Championships, he was second until his final shot of 8.2 cost him the win.
Admiring cricketer MS Dhoni, Kusale aims to carry his qualifying confidence into the final. He scored 198 in kneeling, 197 in prone, and 195 in standing, ranking among the top eight. The list is led by Liu Yukun, the Chinese shooter who equaled the world record score of 597 and set a new Olympic qualification record.
Other Highlights
Boxer Lovlina Borgohain, a Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist, began her Paris campaign with a 5-0 win against Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad, advancing to the 75kg quarter-finals. Meanwhile, table tennis player Manika Batra, the first Indian to reach the Round of 16 in singles, was defeated 4-1 by Japan’s world No. 13 and 8th seed Miu Hirano.
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