Lakshya Sen Vs Lee Zii Jia Highlights, Paris Olympics Badminton Bronze Medal Match: Gritty, Big-Hearted Indian Loses In Decider

Welcome to the highlights of Lakshya Sen Vs Zii Jia Lee men's singles badminton bronze medal match at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Lakshya Sen could become the first Indian man to win an Olympic badminton medal if he manages to beat Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia.

All three of India's badminton medals have come from women - Saina Nehwal (bronze, 2012) and PV Sindhu (silver 2016, bronze 2020).

The bronze medal match between Lakshya Sen and Lee Zii Jia will be underway soon. Want to know when it starts and how you can watch it live? Click below.

Here's how to watch it live

World No.22 Lakshya Sen leads the head-to-head record 4-1 against Lee Zii Jia, and also beat the Malaysian badminton star 20-22, 21-16, 21-19 in a high-intensity match at the All England Open in March 2024.

We are 15 minutes away! Just over 24 hours after missing a chance to make the Olympic final, Lakshya Sen is back fighting for a bronze, aiming to give India's fourth medal at the French capital.

Paris is buzzing as the officials welcome both the players onto the court. It's almost time. Is there Olympic history for India? Is there Olympic history for Lakshya Sen? We are about to find out.

The bronze medal match gets underway, and Lakshya Sen gets off to the perfect start first game. A fantastic first rally, followed by a quick points. Variation in attack seen already from the Indian.

The confidence is building for Sen. The Indian is controlling the pace of the rally and the game. Promising signs. The Malaysian left with all the catching up work to do.

Sen has doubled his lead, and has raced away quick to a 10-4 lead. The 22-year-old has been setting up and understanding the length to perfection, and the defence seems sensational. Things looking good for India.

A fabulous cross-court smash from Sen ends a brilliant rally. He has been spot on from the get go. Classic display of setting up the opponent and it is more than paying off for Sen. The Indian leads 12-6.

The Malaysian is looking to extend the rally after clear instructions from the coaching team. Lee is showing the fight, while Sen looks steady.

A few defensive and judgement errors see Sen give away a few points. Lee is bringing in all the variations and it feels like his nerves have settled in, and is going for the kill every time he creates a chance. Great game so far.

India's Lakshya Sen takes the first game of the bronze medal contest. He's brimming with confidence and is executing those smashes to near perfection. The 22-year-old takes the first game 21-13.

Sen continues to ride the momentum wave from the first game and takes it to the second. The confidence is certainly showing in his shots. Things looking incredibly promising for a bronze.

Lakshya Sen is piling on the pressure as the Malaysian gives away yet another defensive error point. The 22-year-old Indian looks as stable as ever as Lee desperately looks for answers.

Plenty of tactical errors from Sen open up the doors for Lee. The Malaysian comes back from 8-3 down to 8-8. There's a momemtum shift. Lakshya needs to be a little careful.

What a rally, what a point. Lee is now 12-8 in the second game. The Malaysian looked nervous in the first game, but has held his ground and is putting on a show. Game on!

Edge of the seat stuff, and the reaction says it all. Three back-to-back points for Sen, and much needed ones. There's grit written all over.

Tactical, technical and strategies matter, but the heart matters most. Sen is showing a lot of heart. However, Lee is up for the fight, and leads 18-15. Can he take it to the decider?

The mental conditioning, the sacrifices, the training, the missed parties, the early morning all showed up for the Malaysian, and he takes the second game 21-16. Sensational counter-attacking.

Lakshya Sen forces an error and has started to explore the back side of the court. He has a bruise in his right elbow and is getting it strapped again. However, Lee leads the decider 4-2.

Best rally of the match. Hands down. Lee somehow just held on and kept the rally on, and it paid off. Monstrous defence. The momentum clearly in favour of the Malaysian.

Yet another point, yet another brilliant rally. The quality has skyrocketed as the game has progressed. One worthy of a bronze medal match. Sen gets more strapping on his bruise.

Sen looks tired. The Indian's defence looked great, but Lee's attack looked even better. He's five points away is Lee from a bronze medal. Can Sen pull a rabbit out of his hat?

Is Sen delaying the inevitable or is there hope? He started off really well but fell off from the second game.

11-21, and Lee takes the game, match as well as the bronze medal. After losing the first, he showed no signs of frustration, had a quick reset, and put on a badminton masterclass since. Sensational stuff and a deserving medallist.

A certain 22-year-old Indian can have his head held high after a brilliant run of games, despite the final result. In what started off against Cordon, finishes against Lee. He will take home a lot of confidence and this is just the start of a beautiful chapter.

Yet another heartbreak for India, yet another fourth finish. Congratulations to Malaysia and Lee for the bronze. Thank you for joining us, and until next time, take care.