Lakshya Sen. Mirabai Chanu. Arjun Babuta.
Manu Bhaker. Dhiraj Bommadevara, Ankita Bhakat. Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Maheshwari Chauhan.
If there’s one thing connecting the stories of these athletes – apart from representing India at the Olympics, that is – it is that all of these athletes finished immediately outside the podium in their respective events at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. You can ask any athlete which position they would not like to finish in, and every one of them will tell you that it is the dreaded fourth place. Sport is cruel but for none more than those who finish in fourth.
It is the sobering marker of a successful failure — a place that deems you worthier than the rest, but still not deserving of a medal. So close, yet so far. Ace shuttler Lakshya Sen missing out on the bronze medal will arguably be the biggest heartbreak of the lot.
He entered his debut Summer Games seeded fourteenth, following a breakthrough year in 2022 where he finished first in the Commonwealth Games and was part of the team that claimed a historic win at the Thomas Cup for India. The 22-year-old was in blistering form in the group stages as he hammered all three of his opponents, including World No.3 Jonatan Cristie, without dropping a single set.
He also brushed past compatriot H.S.Prannoy in the round of 16 tie.
The two brightest sparks from a nation known for its fireworks, it was saddening that only one would make it out. Lakshya was challenged in his quarterfinal ag.