India’s rising star Lakshya Sen, battled with a niggle on his right arm, as he lost the bronze medal to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in the Paris 2024 on Monday. It was the first Olympic medal for the superior-seeded Malaysian as he restored his authority in the match after losing the first game.

Sen clinched the first game 13-21 in dominating fashion but failed to play to his strengths as he lost 16-21 and 11-21 in the second and third games.

The 2021 World Championships bronze medallist, however, delivered the best performance among the  Indian shuttlers in his maiden Olympic appearance at Paris 2024.

The Malaysian came back strongly in the second game to take an 18-15 advantage. Sen, later, cut short the deficit by one point but Zii Jia controlled the match to perfection to take three consecutive game points.

Zii Jia continued to dictate terms in the decider as he took an 8-2 lead after an astonishingly long rally. The unseeded Indian, struggling with his bruised right arm, recovered well to come closer in the game by trailing 6-11 at the mid-game interval. He, however, needed more medical attention throughout the match.

One of the most interesting moments in the decider came when the Malaysian looked to have stolen his 16th point after coming very close to the net. He continued to display his fine run throughout the decider to close the match with a huge difference.