Not Fair! Indian Badminton Star Lakshya Sen's Victory 'Deleted' In Paris Olympics 2024, Here's Why

India's Lakshya Sen faced a setback as his victory over Kevin Cordon was "deleted" from the final standings, according to the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The announcement on Sunday evening, following Cordon's withdrawal from the Paris 2024 Olympics due to a left elbow injury.

Lakshya had triumphed over Cordon in their first group stage match with scores of 21-8 and 22-20. Despite Cordon's impressive run to the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, he couldn't withstand Lakshya's performance. Lakshya took an early lead of 11-3 and maintained control throughout the match.

Impact of BWF Regulations
The BWF regulations state that if a player cannot complete all group matches due to illness, injury, or other unavoidable reasons, all results involving that player will be deleted. This rule (16.2.5) means that Lakshya now has zero points in the standings. Matches involving Cordon against Jonatan Christie and Julien Carraggi have also been cancelled.

According to BWF General Competition Regulations for group stage play, "If illness, injury, disqualification or other unavoidable hindrance prevents a Player / pair completing all the group matches, all the results of that Player / pair shall be deleted. Retiring during a match shall be considered to be not completing all group matches."

Rescheduling Matches
The BWF has rescheduled matches on these courts for each respective session. This adjustment impacts not only Lakshya but also other players in Group L who were set to face Cordon. The Indian shuttler now faces additional challenges as he navigates through his remaining matches.

Lakshya was placed in Group L, one of two groups out of 13 with four shuttlers. His group included tricky opponents like Indonesia's Jonatan Christie. If Lakshya advanced from Group L, he was expected to meet compatriot HS Prannoy in the Round of 16 and potentially face Japan's Kodai Naraoka in the quarterfinals.

Challenges Ahead
Christie had struggled against Julien Carraggi, winning only after three games. This indicates that even top players can face unexpected difficulties. Lakshya must now focus on his upcoming matches without relying on his initial victory over Cordon.

Despite this setback, Lakshya remains determined to perform well in his first Olympic Games. His journey continues as he aims to overcome these new challenges and make a mark at Paris 2024.

The decision by BWF underscores the importance of fair play and adherence to regulations in competitive sports. It also highlights how unforeseen circumstances can impact athletes' paths and require them to adapt quickly.