China Masters 2024: Lakshya Sen Redeems Himself With A Victory Over Lee Zii Jia

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Lakshya Sen avenged his Paris 2024 heartbreak with a hard-fought win over Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in the first round of the China Masters 2024 on Wednesday (November 20).

The Indian shuttler, who narrowly missed an Olympic bronze after a three-game thriller against Lee, ensured no repeat of that disappointment, claiming a 21-14, 13-21, 21-13 victory in Shenzhen.

Reflecting on the win, Sen said, "It feels good to win a match after a long time. Things have been up and down for me, but I'm still trying to get back to my fitness. Slowly, I'm getting back into the circle, and yes, looking forward to tomorrow."

The match, which saw the two rivals battle intensely across three games, marked Sen's fifth win in seven encounters against Lee. Despite Lee's determined rally in the decider to level the score at 5-5, Sen held his nerve, steadily pulling ahead to seal the win on his third match point.

While the win was sweet, the memory of the Paris defeat still lingers for the 22-year-old. Reflecting on that pivotal loss, Sen shared, "Yes, it was a tough tournament in a way, but it also gave me lots of positives. Yes, it still hurts a bit. I feel it's going to hurt for some time, but the only thing I'm going to take from it is that motivation."

The world championships medalist Sen, who has been managing fitness challenges this season, emphasized the importance of consistency in his performances. "This year is about getting a few good matches under my belt because I just want to play some good matches," he said.

With the victory, Lakshya advances to the second round, where he will face either Denmark's Rasmus Gemke or Japan's Nishimoto Kenta. As he looks ahead, Sen remains focused on steady improvement and reclaiming his peak form.