Explained: Why Lakshya Sen’s Paris Olympics win over Kevin Cordon was ‘deleted’

Lakshya Sen’s victory over Guatemalan player Kevin Cordon has been “deleted” from consideration for final standings, the Badminton World Federation announced on Sunday evening.

The decision was made because Cordon has withdrawn from the Paris 2024 Olympics due to a left elbow injury.

Lakshya had defeated Cordon in straight games in the first group stage match by an imperious 21-8, 22-20 scoreline. This, despite the fact that Cordon had stunned everyone by reaching the semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics held three years ago.

Lakshya is playing at his first Olympic Games. The match against Cordon saw him take a 11-3 lead at one stage against the hapless Guatemalan player. While Lakshya had appeared to ease off his intensity as the match wore on, he managed to defeat his opponent without needing a decider.

However, now it has been made clear that the result will not stand.

Why BWF rules say about deleting results

The withdrawal of the Guatemalan men’s singles player Cordon means that his remaining Group L matches against Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie (on Monday) and Julien Carraggi of Belgium (on Wednesday) will not be played.

BWF said that matches on these courts in each respective session have been rescheduled.

As per BWF General Competition Regulations for group stage play, the results of all matches played, or yet to be played, involving Cordon in Group L are now considered deleted.

The specific rule pertaining to this (rule no 16.2.5) states: “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.”

This means that Lakshya will have zero points on the board in the standings.

Lakshya Sen was in tricky group

Lakshya was placed in Group L, where he had an extra match to play as the Indian shuttler had found himself in one of the two groups out of 13 that has 4 shuttlers. The group also had tricky opponents, including Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie.

Lakshya was also expected to run into compatriot HS Prannoy in Round of 16 if he made it through from Group L. IF he managed to emerge victorious from that as well, the Japanese shuttler Kodai Naraoka awaited him in quarters.

It must be pointed out that Indonesia’s Christie had stuttered his way to beating perhaps the easiest opponent of this group, Julien Carraggi, who he could defeat only in three games.

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