It may have ended in heartbreak, but Lakshya Sen has given us countless moments to enjoy during the Paris Olympics 2024.

That's all we will have for today. But why not check NDTV's main live coverage, as we give you the live updates of Paris 2024. On to Nisha Dahiya and the wrestlers to carry the baton forward.

Goodbye!

And, as many of you may know by now, India were playing two bronze medal matches simultaneously, both of which have ended without a medal.

A word of appreciation for Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Maheshwari Chauhan, who have finished fourth in the shooting mixed team skeet event at Paris 2024.

To celebrate the highs, this is the best-ever showing by a male Indian badminton player at the Olympics men's singles. Lakshya Sen became the first man to reach the semis, beating Parupalli Kashyap and Kidami Srikanth who went till the quarters.

It's important to remember that Lakshya Sen enjoyed sizeable leads over Axelsen during both games of the semi-final, as well as a lead in the bronze medal match.

The fact that he could not close the games out will sting him, but he has certainly proven himself to be a worthy competitor.

Don't forget, this is Lakshya's very first appearance at the Olympics. He has been India's brightest light in a tournament where the country's two biggest badminton hopes failed to fire.

Lakshya Sen has fully established himself as a rising star in the world of badminton. Viktor Axelsen admitted that he would be a medal contender in future Olympics, and this is a great trailer for the future, if that proves to be the case.

Post the loss, Lakshya Sen has spoken about the fact that there was blood on the floor during the match at one point, which needed to be cleaned up. That could've been a point when Lakshya lost his momentum.

This also confirms that India will not win a badminton medal in Paris, a sport that has brought so much to celebrate for the nation for 12 years.

After early exits for PV Sindhu and Satwik-Chirag, Lakshya really gave the nation a real reason to smile.

This is a tournament for Lakshya Sen that deserves to be celebrated. He won his first five games, he took Viktor Axelsen the distance in the semi, and he led for so long against Lee Zii Jia in the bronze medal game.

The 26-year-old Malaysian world no. 7 recovered from a sloppy first game to come roaring back and win the match. He even trailed 8-3 in the second game, and it seemed like bronze for Lakshya was right around the corner. But Lee stayed strong, resilient and improved his game with each point.

Congratulations to Lee Zii Jia for clinching bronze in the badminton men's singles event at Paris 2024.

Lakshya Sen's Paris Olympics 2024 ends in heartbreak. Battling discomfort on his right arm, Lakshya could not capitalize after winning the first game. 

He leaves Paris without a medal, but this is certainly a breakout tournament for the 22-year-old.

Lee has nine match points now. Lakshya's shot goes wide, and Lee Zii Jia is on the cusp of an Olympic medal.

Lakshya trying to take the positive from each point he gains, but Lee is in the driving seat to clinch bronze.

Lee needs just 2 more points for the bronze in the men's singles at Paris 2024. This is a heartbreaking end to the event for Lakshya.

Two more points for Lakshya Sen. He will need to make a monumental comeback, but he keeps his hopes alive.

Lakshya Sen is winning the odd point, but Lee Zii Jia is maintaining his dominance. It is 16-8 now in favour of the Malaysia, and he is just five points away from denying Lakshya the medal he desired.

The game is getting further and further away from Lakshya at the moment. He seems helpless against Lee.

Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia is ahead in the halfway mark of the deciding set. He leads 11-6, a big gap in the context of the game. Lakshya Sen may be battling an injury that is hindering his performance, but he is continuing to play. 

But as of now, a bronze medal seems to be slipping out of his hands.

The 22-year-old with a smash of conviction to win the point. 10-6.

Yet more delay as Lakshya Sen continues to receive treatment on the sidelines. Another bandage being wrapped around his right arm. 

Another long, battling rally between Lee Zii Jia and Lakshya Sen, ending in a point for the Malaysian. He holds a crucial 5-point lead in the deciding third game in the bronze medal match.

Another point for Lakshya. These points are keeping him in the game. Lakshya is refusing to give up.

Can that be the start of an unlikely Lakshya Sen comeback? He has now won two points in a row. A long rally ends with a point for the Indian.

Whether it is fatigue or the arm injury, Lakshya Sen's game has taken a dip. He fails to judge a return on time, and manages a poor effort which Lee punishes.

Lee Zii Jia keeps a number of Lakshya's smashes alive, and then delivers the sucker-punch. Six-point gap between the two now.

Lee leads 7-2 now, and Lakshya looks evidently incapable of being able to match his opponent's brute force at the moment.

Lakshya Sen's right arm continues to give him discomfort. Yet more treatment being given to the 22-year-old. We're unsure how much it is affecting Lakshya, but his tempo has decreased since the first game.

6-2 lead for Lee.

Lee has upped his tempo massively. Lakshya is firmly on the back foot now, and will need to somehow inspire himself and regain his first game form. 4-2.

Lakshya Sen pulls back one point, but Lee with another ferocious return beyond Lakshya. 3-1 to the Malaysian world no. 7.

A smashing start for Lee Zii Jia to the third game. Powerful return wins him the first point of the third and final game.

Lee doubles down to win the next point. Not the ideal start for Lakshya.

Exceptional comeback from Lee Zii Jia, he takes the second game 21-16. Lakshya Sen was leading 8-3 at one stage, but the Malaysian upped his game to win nine points in a row and gain control of the set.

The Paris Olympics 2024 badminton men's singles bronze will be decided in the final game.

Lee leads 20-16 in the second game, and the result for this is surely a formality now.

Lakshya seems to have picked up an injury on his right arm, and it is being bandaged right now.

Lakshya Sen trailing 16-19 now. Lee showing incredible resilience and desire to fight back in the second game. Looks like we're heading to the final game to decide who wins bronze!

Brilliant intent from the 22-year-old. He doubles down and forces the point through. Lee gains back a point, and it becomes 18-15.

Lakshya is within reach of Lee in the second game, but the Malaysian has been much more error-free this time. 

Lee maintaining a slender advantage. Crunch situation in a crucial second game. Lee needs to win this to stay alive in the bronze medal match.

Lee wins back two more points, to retake the lead of the second game. 

Lakshya Sen is back on level terms. He is not letting go of that bronze, not just yet. A brilliant smash to equalize.

And there we go! Three points in a row. Lakshya Sen hoping to mount a comeback now. This is turning out to be some second game!

Much-needed break for Lakshya! Lee's shot is called out, the Malaysian challenges, but the review shows it was OUT.

Can Lakshya find his way back?

12-8 to Lee now. Nine points in a row. Lakshya's shot hits the net.

Let's hope Lakshya can put this run of points behind him. As he showed in the first set, he is more than capable of winning this match convincingly.

Lakshya has now lost 8 points in succession. It was 8-3 at one stage, it's 8-11 now, with Lee in front. The tide has turned completely.

Lakshya has now lost six points in a row. Lee Zii Jia takes the lead for the first time in the match. 9-8 to the Malaysian.

Lakshya badly mistimes a smash, and sends it crashing to the net. This will be scarily reminiscent of the semi-final, where Lakshya lost a big lead in the second game.

Lee has pulled it back to 8-6. Lakshya still with a small advantage in the second game, and much-needed momentum for Lee.

Lakshya is not letting Lee capitalize. Whenever the Malaysian gets a point, the Indian replies with another.

Lakshya's shot kisses the net and falls for a point ahead of a hapless Lee. A big 5-point lead now for the Indian.

Lakshya's shot kisses the net and falls for a point ahead of a hapless Lee. A big 5-point lead now for the Indian.

Lakshya's net game is on point! The 22-year-old has opened up a lead, and Lee seems to be under immense pressure. 6-2 to Lakshya!

There's the two-point advantage. A hard-fought rally, but Lakshya with a firm final return beyond the reach of a diving Lee Zii Jia.

Twice in this game, Lee has drawn level, but Lakshya is keeping his cool and staying nerveless under pressure to regain the lead.

It wasn't level for long. Lee Zii Jia sends his return outside, and Lakshya regains the lead in the second game. 2-1.

Rare sloppy return from Lakshya in this match. 1-1.

Once again, Lakshya making Lee stretch. It's the perfect note to begin a potentially decisive second game. Lakshya leads 1-0.

Cometh the hour, cometh Lakshya. Must-win game for an Olympic medal, and Lakshya Sen has outclassed Lee Zii Jia comfortably so far in this contest. 

That is huge, that is absolutely monumental. This game went on for less than 20 minutes, and Lakshya wrapped it up with conviction.

One eye at bronze now. 

20-13 now. The bronze dream is very much on. SEVEN GAME POINTS.

Lakshya Sen now leading 19-13. This has been a complete performance from the Indian so far.

Lakshya Sen takes a moment to catch his breath, and we're going again. 18-12 to Lakshya now.

Lee challenges the umpire's call, but Lakshya's shot is IN.

Lee Zii Jia's game is topsy-turvy at the moment. The Malaysian is playing some good returns and smashes, but Lakshya continues to force the odd error here and there.

The Indian still maintaining a sizeable gap over Lee Zii Jia. Lakshya just six points away from taking the crucial first game.

Very similar circumstances to the semi-final vs Axelsen. Lakshya, much like the semi, has raced to a big lead. Can he hold on now, with recent history playing in his mind?

Three points in a row for Lee. First,one of Lee's best shots in a match where Lakshya has been on the front foot to make it 13-7. He then quickly makes it 13-8, and then wins out a long rally to make it 13-9.

Lakshya looks in incredible form. The Indian is making Lee Zii Jia stretch as much as he can, and earns a point through sheer power and precision. 13-6 to Lakshya.

Be it "Let's go Lakshya" or "Jeetega bhai jeetega", the Indian support has been phenomenal for Lakshya at the Paris Olympics 2024. Huge roars everytime Lakshya makes a good move.

As the players take a breather, we remind you again that this is for an Olympic bronze medal. Lakshya Sen has had a superb tournament so far, and he has started this all-important match on the perfect note.

And Lakshya is the first to 11 points in the opening game. This has been a confident beginning by the young Indian, and he has forced Lee into a fair few errors.

Lakshya, once again, is dominating the opening moments of this match. In the blink of an eye, the 22-year-old has raced to a 10-4 lead.

The Indian makes a stunning recovery. Lakshya pulls out a shot that looked to be beyond his reach, and then slams it past Lee.

Once again, Lee Zii Jia fires well outside the baseline to make it 7-3 to Lakshya. This time, however, he comes back with a fierce return in the next rally, to make it 7-4.

6-2 lead now for Lakshya. Some not so great shots from Lee Zii Jia, the world no. 7. He seems to be under pressure and has fired wide three returns in a row.

Lakshya now leads 3-1 in the bronze medal match. Just the ideal start for Lakshya. "Let's go Lakshya, let's go" chanted by the fans.

A terrific opening rally, goes on for a very long time, but Lee fires wide and Lakshya takes the point.

Repeat that for the next point too. 2-0.

And the warm-ups are done, and Lee Zii Jia will get us underway with the serve. A huge roar for Lakshya as his name is announced.

We are on!

Lakshya Sen and Lee Zii Jia practising their pre-match drills now. Just the few warmups, as customary, before a very, very crucial match. This is for the bronze medal.

And the players are making their way in. Deafening cheer for Lakshya Sen from the Indian supporters at the La Chappelle Arena Court 1.

We should be just five minutes away from the start of the badminton men's singles bronze medal match. Lakshya Sen, this is your time to shine!

Let's recap Lakshya's tournament up to this point.

Group Stage:

vs Kevin Cordon: Won (21-8, 22-20)
vs Julien Carragi: Won (21-19, 21-14)

vs Jonatan Christie: Won (21-18, 21-12)

Knockout Stage:

vs HS Prannoy: Won (21-12, 21-6)

vs Chou Tien-chen: Won (19-21, 21-15, 21-12)

vs Viktor Axelsen: Lost (20-22, 14-21)

Lakshya Sen must have a fire in his belly. In truth, the 22-year-old has shown remarkable skill, composure and fitness across the entire Paris Olympics. One defeat against Axelsen should not count those out.

And here's the first Live update from the La Chappelle Arena Court 1. Lakshya Sen is warming up pre-match, alongside Indian badminton legends Prakash Padukone and U. Vimal Kumar.

Lakshya is aiming to clinch India's fourth successive Olympic medal in badminton.

London 2012: Saina Nehwal (bronze)

Rio 2016: PV Sindhu (silver)
Tokyo 2020: PV Sindhu (bronze)

Can Lakshya join the list?

Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia is four years older than Lakshya. He is a 2024 Thomas Cup bronze medalist in the men's team event, and a 2022 Asian Championships men's singles gold medalist.

Lee lost to Thai star Kunlavut Vitidsarn in straight games in the Paris 2024 semi.

What made the semi-final defeat even more painful was how close Lakshya Sen got on multiple occasions. He had led the first game 18-13, and the second game 7-0, but both times, failed to capitalize on the advantage.

Lakshya Sen suffered a heart-breaking defeat to Denmark's Viktor Axelsen in the men's singles semi-final. The 22-year-old lost to the reigning Olympic gold medalist 22-20, 21-14.

Lakshya Sen has faced Lee Zii Jia five times in his career, and has come out as the victor in four of those games. Therefore, the 22-year-old will be fancying his chances tonight.

Lakshya Sen will not have it easy. He is up against Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in the bronze medal match, a player who is currently ranked 7th in the world.

Hello everyone, this is a big day. Lakshya Sen is playing for bronze in the badminton men's singles event at Paris Olympics 2024.