If Lakshya Sen’s win over Jonatan Christie produced moments of brilliance from the Indian teenager, a few of which went viral, his contest with HS Prannoy was on the opposite facet of the spectrum.
Up towards his Thomas Cup teammate, and a roommate typically on tour, Lakshya didn’t must provide you with Matrix-level behind-the-back pictures or loopy retrievals from tight corners. Solidity was sufficient. He led from the primary level to the final within the opening recreation that he took 21-12. In the beginning of the second, 1-0 was the one lead Prannoy would maintain all afternoon, because it turned more and more evident that Lakshya was going to canter dwelling. It was 21-5 ultimately, and the dearth of any kind of celebration from Lakshya summed up the sombre temper of the match.
It wasn’t preferrred for anybody involved. Prannoy or Lakshya actually didn’t need to be enjoying one another on the largest event of their lives. As a spectacle for a badminton impartial too, it wasn’t something to put in writing dwelling about. Prannoy, evidently nonetheless not at peak bodily health after a latest bout of chikungunya hampered his lead-up to Paris, was a shell of his roaring, diving, rallying self. The person often known as The Beast, wasn’t at his greatest.
SEN PREVAILS IN THE ALL 🇮🇳 BATTLE!
Watch the highlights of the match right here 👇https://t.co/MWpMHOdjRt
Catch the LIVE motion from #Paris2024 on #Sports18 & stream FREE on #JioCinema.#Cheer4Bharat #OlympicsonJioCinema #OlympicsonSports18
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) August 1, 2024
Who’s Lakshya up towards now?
Up subsequent for Lakshya might properly have been a well-recognized face. From 2018’s junior batch, 4 children have transitioned brilliantly to the senior circuit: Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Lakshya, Li Shi Feng and Kodai Naraoka. And the draw had pitted Lakshya on a collision course with Japan’s Naraoka. As an alternative although, on Friday, the Indian shall be up towards Chou Tien Chen of Chinese language Taipei. From a possible Class of 2018 reunion, it’s a gathering with a a lot older, cannier alumni.
They don’t get any grittier than Chou. The 34-year-old has been a near-constant presence on the tour for years now, reaching as excessive as World No. 2 in 2022. In April 2023, earlier than the Badminton Asia Championships, colorectal most cancers was detected however luckily sufficient, the required surgical procedure was a minor process.
“I used to be coaching with Viktor (Axelsen), and earlier than that I did a bodily verify. After they did a extra detailed verify, it was most cancers,” Chou would disclose to the BWF in February this yr after profitable the Thailand Masters title. “Once we obtained the information, it was a shock. I used to be enjoying the Asian Championships on the time. I all the time eat properly and sleep properly, so we don’t know why it occurred.”
Like Lakshya, Chou too is a bronze medallist on the World Championships. Like Lakshya and India in 2022 (gold), Chou too was a part of a particular Thomas Cup run in 2024 (bronze), main his nation to uncharted territory. Like Lakshya, Chou too loves a great rally and is a tricky man to interrupt down in defence.
A match for the ages in Paris! 🏸
Catch Lakshya Sen tackle HS Prannoy at #Paris2024, LIVE on #Sports18 & streaming FREE on #JioCinema 👈#Cheer4Bharat #OlympicsonJioCinema #OlympicsonSports18 pic.twitter.com/jBX2JylaqD
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) August 1, 2024
What sort of match to count on?
Lakshya has performed Chou 4 instances, and gained a kind of matches: on the All England Open in 2023, when he produced certainly one of his extra spectacular performances that yr earlier than accidents and sicknesses began to drag him down. Actually, of their earlier 4 conferences, that’s the solely event when the match was determined in two video games. Each different contest has gone the space.
That sums up Chou, who is understood for taking part in loads of three-game matches on tour. It means Lakshya’s health should be at an optimum degree as a result of his opponent is aware of a factor or two about lasting the space. Lakshya has already proven in Paris that he has a great deal with on situations, and can hope his tempo variations can hold Chou beneath verify. Clearly, the 12 years separating the 2 shuttlers might be an element that helps Lakshya, who has been coaching arduous on his endurance within the build-up to Paris.
However Chou is a survivor, at instances a warrior, who’s chasing a dream late in his profession. “You retain enjoying as a result of you’ve got a dream, proper? Olympics is all the time our dream,” Chou had mentioned.
However for Lakshya, the mission could be to make sure he carries ahead India’s dream of changing into the primary male shuttler to win a medal on the Olympics. His opponent on Thursday, Prannoy, had a easy message for him: don’t overlook to benefit from the second.