Despite putting up a valiant fight, Lakshya couldn’t maintain his early advantage and was further hampered by an injury in the second game, ultimately succumbing to a 21-13, 16-21, 11-21 defeat.
Lakshya’s start in the first game was impressive, a reflection of his consistent performances throughout the Olympics. He surged to an 11-5 lead at the first game break, showcasing his ability to dominate early.
Unlike his aggressive approach against Axelsen, Lakshya adapted his strategy against Lee by engaging in extended rallies. This tactic paid off, forcing Lee into several judgment errors and allowing Lakshya to build a solid lead.
Post-break, Lee tried to increase his aggression, but Lakshya’s defence was unyielding. Leveraging his learnings from the semi-final defeat, Lakshya executed his game plan flawlessly, capitalising on Lee’s mistakes to secure a commanding 21-13 victory in the first game.
Source ( Olympics.com )
The second game began in a similar vein, with Lakshya quickly establishing leads of 7-2 and 8-3. However, unforced errors crept into his game, enabling Lee to stage a remarkable comeback.
The Malaysian scored eight consecutive points, taking an 11-8 lead at the break. Known for his fluctuating performance levels, Lee unleashed a series of aggressive shots, targeting Lakshya’s body to exert pressure.
During the interval, legendary Indian shuttler Prakash Padukone’s intense conversation with Lakshya seemed to reignite his focus. Lakshya responded by halting Lee’s point streak and scoring four consecutive points to level the score at 12-12.
Nevertheless, Lee’s relentless aggression paid off, earning him another set of successive points. The intensity of the match escalated as both players traded powerful shots.
Trailing 16-19, Lakshya suffered a setback when he injured his elbow during a dive, requiring medical attention for his bleeding right hand.
Lee capitalised on this moment, clinching the second game 21-16 and pushing the match to a deciding game.
The third game proved to be the most challenging for Lakshya. A series of judgment errors and missed smashes saw him fall behind 2-8 early on.
His injured hand, which needed medical attention twice during the game, significantly hindered his performance. Despite his best efforts, Lakshya struggled to regain his rhythm and ultimately lost the final game 11-21.
Despite this defeat, Lakshya’s journey in the Olympics has been nothing short of historic. He became the first Indian shuttler to reach the men’s singles semi-finals, marking a significant milestone for Indian badminton.
His resilience, adaptability, and determination throughout the tournament have set a new benchmark for future generations of Indian shuttlers.