Paris 2024 Olympics, Badminton highlights, July 27: Satwik-Chirag, Lakshya win opening matches; Ponnappa-Crasto lose

Men’s singles: Lakshya Sen beat Kevin Cordon (Guatemala): 21-8, 22-20

Men’s doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty beat Lucas Corvee/Ronan Labar (France): 21-17, 21-14

Women’s singles: Ashwini Ponnappa/Tanisha Crasto lost to Kim So Yeong/Kong Hee Yong (Republic of Korea): 18-21, 10-21

And that is it as the Crasto hits her backhand out of the court. The Koreans completely blow away the Indian pair in the second game after a closely contested first game.

Ten match points for the Koreans.

Ponnappa misjudges a shot from Kong as she watches the shuttlecock fall inside the court.

Brilliant deceptive drop return from Ponnappa catches the Koreans off guard.

The Koreans with a 10-point lead after India loses a challenge.

A return from Kong clips the net and drops in front of a stretching Crasto who cannot reach there in time.

Kong hits her shot out of the court as the Indians try to crawl back into the match.

The Indians look exhausted as the Koreans rain down smash after smash.

A powerful smash from Kim near the net to extend their lead.

India with the first point after the break as Kim overhits her shot.

The Koreans with an eight-point lead as we go into the mid-game break after Crasto hits the net with her backhand.

Another long rally ends with Ponnappa not generating enough power in her back hand which goes only as far as the net.

Kong with back-to-back smashes towards Ponnappa which the Indian holds off until eventually mis-hitting one.

The Koreans have a healthy and early lead at the start of the second game as Ponnappa returns a shot into the net.

Ponnappa and Cratso get one back despite some good defending from Kim against shots from near the net.

The Koreans win the next three points after the Indians commit errors.

Kim serves first in the second game. India wins the first point after Ponnappa sees a return on its way out of the court.

The Koreans win the first game as Kong smashes the shuttlecock straight into Crasto from near the net.

The Indians are not giving up as Ponnappa smashes the shuttlecock across the court.

A long rally ends with Cratso failing to generate enough power to send the shuttlecock past the net. Game point for Kim and Hong.

Ponnappa and Cratso are scurrying across the court trying to return every attack from the Koreans. However, the Koreans win the point after smashing the shuttlecock straight into Crasto’s body.

The Indians close the gap thanks to some brilliant defensive work from Crasto who smashes the shuttlecock from near the net to win the point.

Good leave from Crasto as she watches the shuttlecock drop outside the court.

The Koreans take a five-point lead in the first game after Ponnappa mis hits her shot.

Lovely touch from Kim drops the shuttlecock in front of the Indians who cannot react quickly.

Ponnappa had a good idea to go across the court but the shuttlecock ends up drifting a little wide.

India gets the first point after the break after some brilliant work from Crasto who kept her eye on the shuttlecock whilst on the ground to force the Koreans to make an error.

A long rally ends with Ponnappa overhitting the shuttlecock out of the court as the Koreans take a three-point lead into the mid-game interval.

Ponnappa and Crasto reduce the gap after Kong mishits while trying to return a smash from Ponnappa.

The Koreans are getting away now as India loses a challenge after their opponent’s return falls on the line.

The Koreans take a two-point lead after good play near the net. The Indian duo is under pressure as Ponnappa returns the shuttlecock into the net.

A tight beginning to this match as Kim hits a deceptive drop shot to make it level in the first game.

Another half-hearted back hand from Crasto goes only as far as the net.

Crasto levels it up with a smash into the middle of the court from near the net.

The Koreans take a lead after Cratso mistimes her forehand return.

Tanisha Crasto serves first and Korea gets the first point.

Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto enter La Chapelle Arena Court 1, following Kim So Yeonga and Kong Hee Yong (Republic of Korea).

“The Parisian crowds always support badminton. Even at 8 AM, the stadium was fully packed. I love the feeling of playing in front of such a large crowd. They call it ‘the city of love’, so we love Paris,” said Satwik.

Chirag said, “Obviously, the first matches are always tough. We are playing in a new stadium, at the biggest stage. Most of it is simply incredible. To see so many people come out, it feels good.”

On feeling pressure to win gold for India he said, “We are not looking that far. The pressure is there for everyone. All 17 pairs who are participating in the Olympics, every single person is under pressure. So we are taking it in our stride, as positively as possible.”

Indian duo Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto will be in action against Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong (Republic of Korea) in their Group C women’s doubles match at the La Chapelle Arena Court 1.

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Paris Olympics 2024: Full List of Indian Results on July 27; India beats New Zealand in hockey; Manu Bhaker qualifies for final in shooting

Paris Olympics: Here are all the results of Indian athletes who were in action at the 2024 Games on Saturday, July 27.

And that is it. Satwik and Chirag comfortably beat the French duo of Corvee and Labar in straight sets to kick off their Paris 2024 Olympics campaign. They finished the match in 47 minutes.

The Indians edge closer to a win after Labar’s cross-court shot hits the net.

The six-point lead is restored with good play from the Indians near the net.

The gap is back to four points after Chirag misjudges a serve which falls correctly inside the court.

The Indians respond with a couple of quick points, forcing their opponents to hits the shuttlecock out of the court.

A lapse of concentration from Chirag as he misses an easy shot near the net to let the French enter double figures.

Chirag with another brilliant deceptive serve to take a four-point lead.

France wins the first point after the break after Satwik’s return drifts wide of the court.

The Indian duo go into the mid-game interval after Corvee’s block near the net does not make it past the net.

The Frenchmen respond with two quick points after Satwik hits the net from close range.

Corvee cannot keep his return inside the court as Satwik/Chirag takes a four-point lead.

Corvee holds up his hand as an apology after smashing the shuttlecock at Chirag who was on the floor in no man’s land.

The Indian duo takes a three-point lead after Satwik hits a powerful smash from the back of the court straight into Corvee’s body.

Chirag with a deceptive serve which leaves Corvee stranded.

Good defensive play from Satwik near the net as Corvee hits the shuttlecock into the net.

Satwik-Chirag take the lead after Labar cannot reach a return which falls just inside the court.

The French duo takes the lead after Corvee hits a powerful smash which is not returned.

Chirag serves at the start of the first game. He concedes the first point by hitting the shuttlecock into the net. 

Satwik and Chirag secure the first game after Labar’s return goes wide of the mark. The Indians seal the first game of their Olympic campaign in 23 minutes.

Game point for India after Corvee hits the net with his return.

Satwik responds with a smash from near the net. 

A high smash from Labar as the Frenchmen creep closer to the Indians.

Corvee with a series of good smashes to close the gap to two points. 

France recovers after Corvee smashes the shuttlecock down the line past Chirag.

Brilliant play from Chirag who takes multiple shots from near the net and ends with a smash straight at Labar.

The gap is back to three points after Satwik overhits his smash from the middle of the court.

Satwik follows it up with a quick cross-court backhand away from the opponents.

The Frenchmen close the gap to three after Corvee hits a well-worked cross-court smash.

A point apiece after the break as Chirag’s smash return goes long and wide.

The Indian duo goes into the mid-game interval with a five-point lead after the Frenchmen misjudge a return from Satwik which ended up falling inside the court.

Another powerful smash from behind by Satwik which is returned out by Corvee.

Quick reflexes from the Indians as Satwik smashes the shuttlecock straight into Labar from near the net to restore their lead.

A poor back-hand into the net from Satwik as the Frenchmen close the gap to one point.

Sat-Chi recovers to take a two-point lead after Crovee hits the shuttlecock out while returning a shot from Satwik.

The Indians misjudged a return from their opponents and the shuttlecock falls inside the court to concede the lead.

The French duo starts with a service error.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty and Lucas Corvee/Ronan Laba are warming up on the La Chapelle Arena Court 1.

And he does it!! Lakshya sen wins six straight points in the end to win the match. He smashes the shuttlecock past Cordon to finish off the match in 42 minutes.

Match point for Sen after Cordon loses his video challenge.

And Sen saves four game points with a smash from near the net. 22 points are required to win the game now.

Sen closes it down to one point after successfully winning a challenge.

Sen is not giving up after Cordon does not return his smash.

Game point for Cordon after Sen hits the shuttlecock into the net.

However, Cordon gets another point after Sen hits the shuttlecock out of the court again

Sen closes the gap to three points with a smash straight into Cordon’s body.

Cordon is holding onto his lead as Sen’s long return from near the net land out of the court.

A long rally ends with Cordon returning the shuttlecock into the net.

Sen closes the gap after reviewing a return from Cordon which was initially called in.

Another mistake from Sen as his smash down the line goes wide.

Cordon extends his lead after Sen overhits his shot. The Indian is looking exhausted now after running around the court trying to return Cordon’s shot.

Kevin Cordon goes into the mid-game interval with a five-point lead. The man from Guatemala seems more into the groove after a poor showing in the first game.

This is a more even match now as Sen smashes the shuttlecock into the net while trying to catch out Cordon.

Brilliant from Lakshya Sen who stretches to reach Cordon’s smash before recovering to edge closer with a smash into Cordon’s body.

Sen gets one back with a high and powerful cross-court smash.

Cordon with more intent now. He is making Sen scurry around the court before smashing the shuttlecock from near the net.

Cordon extends his lead with a bit of attacking play. His smash return is misjudged by Sen who watches the shuttlecock fall inside the court.

A better start from Cordon who hits a cross-court backhand which is returned to the net by Sen.

Cordon wins the first point of the second game after Sen commits a service error.

But Sen closes it out with some splendid defence against Cordon’s smashes. The Indian wins the first game in just 14 minutes.

Cordon with another point after Sen’s attempt to smash finds the net.

Sen responds with a cross-court smash after Cordon wins a point after a review.

Sen wins three points on the trot, smashing the shuttlecock perfectly down the line to extend hi lead.

An entertaining rally ends with Cordon winning a point after catching Sen off-guard near the net.

A point each after the break. Sen is attacking Cordon’s forehand with powerful smashes.

Sen with a drop shot near the net to go into the first break. The Indian has a nine-point advantage in the mid-game interval.

Sen follows it up with a series of smashes which Cordon has no answers to. Sen seems to be dialed in now.

A strong start from the Indian who smashes the shuttlecock down the court. He follows it up with a mistimed shot to give Cordon his first point of the match.

Sen takes a three-point lead after Cordon hits the shuttlecock out of the court.

Kevin Cordon serves first. Lakshya Sen wins the first point with a drop shot.

Maiden Olympian Lakshya Sen and five-time Olympian Kevin Cordon of Guatemala are on the La Chapelle Arena Court 1 for the warm ups.

Men’s Singles:

HS Prannoy

Lakshya Sen

Men’s Doubles:

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty

Women’s Singles:

PV Sindhu

Women’s Doubles:

Tanisha Crasto/Ashwini Ponnappa

Lakshya Sen has faced Guatemala’s Kevin Cordon only once before this match, in the 2021 World Championships, where Sen defeated Cordon 21-13, 21-8.

“I have played with most of the players before and I know what to expect. I have to be really sharp from the first day and give my best,” said Lakshya Sen during an interaction.

Read the full story here

Paris Olympics 2024: ‘Biggest event of my life,’ says Lakshya Sen talking about his preparation ahead of Olympic Games

Currently training and acclimatising in Marseille, which has similar conditions and time zone to that of Paris, shuttler Lakshya Sen wants to be fresh and sharp in his debut Olympic Games.

Men’s Singles, Group Play Stage - Group L - Lakshya Sen vs Kevin Cordon (Guatemala)

Men’s Doubles, Group Play Stage - Group C - Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty vs Lucas Corvee/Ronan Labar (France)

Women’s Doubles, Group Play Stage - Group C - Ashwini Ponnappa/Tanisha Crasto vs Kim So Yeong/Kong Hee Yong (Republic of Korea)

When and where to watch the Paris Olympics 2024 LIVE in India?

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.