Nettasinghe to face World No.7 in Group ‘G’ opener

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka’s young badminton sensation Viren Nettasinghe will take on World No. 7 Lee Zii Jia in his opening Group Stage encounter at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games badminton competition on July 28.

Competing in Group ‘G’, Nettasinghe will take on the formidable Malaysian opponent at 1.40 p.m. Sri Lanka time at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena, located in the La Chapelle in Paris.
This match will be a crucial test for the World No. 70-ranked Nettasinghe, who is the youngest badminton player to directly qualify for the Paris Games. His second match will be against Spain’s seasoned player Pablo Abian. The date and time for Nettasinghe’s match against the 39-year-old World No.62 are yet to be announced but it promises to be another thrilling encounter.

Both matches in Group ‘G’ are critical for the Sri Lankan shuttler, as only the top player will advance to the Round of 16 at the Paris Games.

Nettasinghe’s performance in these first-round matches will be crucial in determining his progress in the tournament.

The stage is set, and all eyes will be on Nettasinghe, who will carry the National Flag at the opening ceremony on July 26 at River Seine, as he embarks on his Olympic journey.
Whether he advances to the next round or not, Nettasinghe’s participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics is already a remarkable achievement and a source of immense pride for Sri Lanka.