Lakshya Sen stuns world number three Jonatan Christie to enter round of 16 at Paris Olympics

Lakshya Sen scripted a huge upset to beat the world No. three and the third seed Jonatan Christie 21-18 and 21-12 to break into the round of 16 at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, July 31. This is arguably the biggest win of Lakshya's career as Christie was billed to beat him and advance to the round of 16.

The Indonesian shuttler began the proceedings in an authoritative fashion as he raced to a 5-0 lead over Lakshya. Aware of the fact that Lakshya was on the slower side of the court, Christie came out all guns blazing and used it to his advantage.

Lakshya earned his first point of the match when Christie's back end went wide of the court. The Almora-born followed it up with a superb cross-court smash to catch Christie off guard and won his second point of the contest.

Lakshya's comeback exerted pressure on the Indonesian as he made far too many unforced errors and lost his momentum.

The emerging Indian shuttler scored points in succession to go 9-8 ahead of the former world No. 2 and packed a solid smash while taking a giant leap in thin air to take a one-point lead into the first mid-game interval.

Christie couldn't prevent himself from making more unforced errors and that allowed Lakshya to lead the first game 14-11. Lakshya was expected to run away with the lead but it wasn't meant to be as Christie wrestled back momentum to earn a two-point lead 18-16.

However, the Birmingham Commonwealth Games gold medallist was in no mood to let the contest slip away as he roared past Christie to take the first game 21-18. Lakshya also produced arguably the shot of the tournament when he connected a no-look backhand to catch Christie off guard.

The second game began with a neck-to-neck battle between the two before Lakshya capitalised as a result of Christie's unforced errors. Lakshya took a five-point lead (11-6) during the second mid-game interval and it turned out to be decisive.

Christie looked a pale shadow of his vintage self as Lakshya dictated proceedings and took the second game by the scruff of its neck (21-12).

Lakshya had prepared well for the fixture against Christie as he knew he had to bring his 'A' game to the table to beat him. 

"The last two to three times we have played, it has been a close encounter. I'll be watching those matches as well, maybe few things (about) what I can do better from the last time and focus on my strength, how I can control the game, how I can play my best," he had said during his media interaction leading into the Paris Olympics.

How has Lakshya Sen performed in 2024 so far?