A final smash from Malaysian Lee Zii Jia pierces Toma Junior Popov. The Frenchman’s adventure therefore ends at the round of 16 of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Less than 24 hours after his exploit against Indonesian Anthony Ginting, the eldest of the Popov brothers loses in two sets (21-13, 24-22) against the world number 7. Despite a good resistance during the 2nd set and two wasted set shuttles, including one on a slip, the Fos-sur-Mer player sees his great adventure come to an abrupt end.
He left the court to a standing ovation from an excited crowd and a “Marseillaise” launched by the kop “Allez les Bleus”. There were now no more French players in the running. “I defended myself well with the accumulated fatigue. Too bad I slipped on my set shuttle, it was decided by details, comments the 20th player in the world. I made fewer mistakes in the 2nd set. I lacked a little juice on the support recoveries and the pushes.”
2024-08-01 16:46:19
#medal #Olympics #French #badminton #ambitious #whets #appetite
