Badminton Highlights, Paris Olympics 2024: Lakshya Sen beats Julian Carraggi 21-19, 21-14 in men’s singles group L match — July 29 updates

Carraggi’s returns go wide as Sen register a brilliant straight-game win and marches forward in his group. 

A couple of match points saved by Carraggi. 

8 match points for Sen. 

Carraggi return goes long as Sen is just two points away from naming this game. 

Sen’s pace is hard to match for Carraggi who is struggling to deliver quick returns. 

Two back-to-back points for Sen who make sure Carraggi stays away from his lead. 

Sen was airborne to deliver a cross-court smash in the middle to win a point quickly. 

Carraggi is mounting a comeback here. A couple of quick points mean the gap is only of four points. 

Sen is able to dictate the pace of the match and is forcing Carraggi to make errors. 

Carraggi has been able to close in on the lead but it still looks a far cry for an upset here. 

Sen played a shot on the line late to give control to Carraggi in this point. The lead is cut-short to six points now. 

Lakshya is running away with this lead and closes in on a straight games win with a seven-point lead. 

Carraggi’s backhand returns go long to give a point to Sen. 

Back-to-back points for Carraggi after Sen errors with his net play. 

Sen was placed awkwardly to counter a body smash from Carraggi this time. Drops a point. 

Another error from Carraggi after his tentative return finds the net. Five points in a row for Sen. 

The second game is drifting away from Carraggi’s hands after he makes back-to-back errors. 

Sen dives on his right to return Carraggi’s cross-court return and reaps the benefit after the Belgian’s return finds the net. 

Sen finds net this time, drops a point. 

Sen gets into lead after winning multiple points on the trot. 

We are back with the live action for the second game. 

Sen converts game point to a point to finish the first game quickly. A brilliantly fought game which went to India’s favour eventually. 

Carraggi sets himself up for a crisp smash but this seemed to have gone out. He takes a review but it is clearly outside as Sen gets game point. 

Carraggi is not letting this game go away easily. He attacks into the body to win a point. 

It is the Indian who gets into the lead after Carraggi fails to find backhand connection. 

Sen comes on level terms with a cross court smash. 

The Belgian shuttler finds net while smashing his way as the gap remains the same. 

Another return by Carragi goes wide as Sen closes the gap. 

Sen forces an error from Carraggi this time as the Belgian’s returns go wide. 

A crisp cross-court smash gives Carraggi a point this time to keep Sen under some pressure. 

Carraggi makes an error in his service game. He shoots wide before Sen gets another point with a backhand smash. 

This is a very tight match with both players taking points from each other constantly. 

Sen makes an error in judgement as his return went below the net. Carraggi doubles the lead with his point. 

Sen finishes a long rally with a delicate yet ferocious netplay to get his third point on the trot. 

Sen first drops a point before a forehand smash gives him a point. 

Sen was quite late on his return to drop a point as the Belgian gets into a three-point lead. 

Sen sets up the point in his service, a delicate net play before a cracking smash to get this point. 

Carraggi maintains his advantage with constant points. 

A brilliant smash to find a vacant space at the right of Carraggi gives Sen a point this time. 

Sen seems to be under pressure as he shoots one wide. 

Carraggi doubles the lead after Sen fails to return a quick smash in the middle. 

Sen wrong-foots Carraggi to take one back before conceding two points. 

Carraggi is giving a tough fight to Sen as he gets into the lead with three back-to-back points. 

Carraggi takes the scoreline on level terms at 2-2 before Sen gets back into the lead with two consecutive points. 

Aggressive approach helps Carraggi gets his first point after he finds the vacant space on Sen’s left to land his smash. 

Another return goes wide from Carraggi as Sen gets into early lead. 

Julian Carraggi starts with his service, and drops a point straight away after his return landed wide. 

Both the players are done with their practice. Nil-nil as we head for some live action. 

Umpire: Emi Sakamoto (Japan)

Service Judge: Ivo Kassel (Switzerland)

Although Lakshya Sen started his Paris 2024 Olympics with a win over Guatemala’s Kevin Cordon but the latter’s withdrawal from the Summer Games made the situation tricky for the Indian. Now, Sen will have to win both of his games to finish on top of his group to qualify for knockouts. 

The live telecast of the Paris Olympics will be available on Sports18 while the live streaming will be available on JioCinema in India from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s LIVE coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics badminton men’s singles Group C match between India’s Lakshya Sen and Belgian Julian Carraggi on July 29, Monday. Stay tuned as we bring you all the live updates.