PARIS: After the morning rain, the light, damp breeze feels good on the face. A good night’s sleep after the long train journey from Chateauroux on Tuesday night had helped. Exiting the Metro, outside the Porte de la Chapelle, one notices that the cobbled pavement leading to the stadium has the impression of a shuttlecock. And slightly forward, the barbell, which reminds me wrong Mirabai Chanu. But that’s for another day. Wednesday morning is about us badminton stars, in the fight for knockout last-16 singles berths.
PV Sindhu, two Olympic medals in his bag (silver in Rio 2016, bronze in Tokyo 2020), was the first Indian to take the field. The 29-year-old Indian was up against 27-year-old Kristin Kuuba from Estonia.
The first game was a breeze as they won 21-15. Cubans, who have a deceptive repertoire, managed to stay close to 6-8 in the second game. But Sindhu had a quick talk with Indonesian coach Agus Dwi Santoso during the time-out. He came back to score 11 points on the trot and then closed the game and the match at 21-10. It also confirmed his entry in the last 16 knockout stage.
While it is easy for Sindhu and is in the expected line, it is a big task for Lakshya Sen in men’s singles. After defeating Guatemala’s Kevin Cordon in the opening match, he defeated Belgium’s Julien Carraggi. With Cordon withdrawing after the first match, Lakshya’s victory against him was ‘wiped out’.
So, in a must-win match, the unseeded 22-year-old Indian was pitted against the third seed, Jonathan Christie from Indonesia. Sen took time to settle down, made a comeback and then blew Indonesia and the seedings and rankings out of the window with his emphatic performance.
Sen has been beating the best in the world not long ago, but suffered a slump last year. He had to undergo a nose job due to a deviated septum last August. The surgery was required because the septum had blocked the right nasal passage. He announced later that the air intake was only 20% of normal. This leads to low immunity and some diseases. It took him eight months to fully recover and rediscover his form, fitness and confidence.
Sen has defeated Christie in the first meeting in 2020. After that 4-0 for Indonesia. But that must be far from the Indian mind. He got a tough draw, and he was willing to pull out of the fight.
Sen started tentatively and found himself down 0-5. The Indonesian pinned him to the back of the court and attacked him aggressively. “It took me some time to understand the tactics. The wind didn’t help either, so I decided to change my strategy and fight aggression,” Sen said later.
From 2-8 down, they took seven straight points to go ahead 9-8. Sen decided to join the rally and came up with a smooth drop and a very good yield. Christie continues smashing, hitting hard, trying to barge his way through. Sen was not surprised and threw stones at his favorite enemy.
India then made their own smashes and went ahead 14-11. Christie fought back to make it 18-18. Sen picked up two quick points to earn game point. Then came the brilliant reflex return from India. It was the match shot and the one that gave Sen the confidence to go for the kill. First game won 21-18.
Sen did not change his strategy in the second game. He is willing to play long rallies, keep returning everything he throws, keep lunging, keep diving. The Indonesians continued to make unforced errors, marveling at Sen’s horrendous play.
At the halfway stage of the second game, Sen led 11-6, Then, leading 13-9, reeled off four points to advance 17-9. It is clear that the Indonesians have no chance of making a dramatic comeback. Sen has a stranglehold on him, the escape window is closed.
The Indians closed the game at 21-12 and clenched their fists for the last time. He then waved at the fans in the stands and thanked them with folded hands.
“I took time to settle in the first game and after that I tried to keep one or two points in the lead. It worked. In the second, I was in full control,” said Sen later. “This is a tough group. I have confidence and momentum with me. I have to keep giving 100%.
He must. It’s long.
RALLES PRANNOY to make pre-quarters
HS Prannoy lost the first game of the match against Vietnam’s Le Duc Phat but he fought back strongly to make it to the round of 16. Prannoy won 16-21, 21-11, 21-12 and will face Lakshya for a place in the quarter.
