New Delhi: India’s spirited run at the Thomas Cup 2026 came to a halt in the semi-finals on Saturday, as a depleted side went down 3-0 to France in Horsens, Denmark.
The absence of their leading singles star, Lakshya Sen, proved decisive, leaving the team short of firepower at a critical stage.
India, however, did not leave empty-handed. The campaign yielded a bronze medal – only the nation’s second podium finish in the tournament’s history after the landmark gold in 2022 – underlining the team’s growing consistency on the global stage, according to olympics.com.
The tie opened on a difficult note, with rising shuttler Ayush Shetty stepping in for the injured Sen. Up against world No. 4 Christo Popov, the young Indian struggled to find rhythm and went down 21-11, 21-9 in a one-sided 39-minute contest. Shetty, who had impressed in the quarter-finals, could not replicate that sharpness against a seasoned opponent who controlled proceedings from the outset.
Former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth offered resistance in the second rubber, taking on the highly-rated Alex Lanier. Srikanth showed glimpses of his experience and touch, but Lanier maintained composure in key moments to seal a 21-16, 21-18 win, pushing India to the brink.
With elimination looming, the responsibility fell on H. S. Prannoy in the third match against Toma Junior Popov. Prannoy battled hard, especially in a closely-contested opening game, but the Frenchman held firm to close out the match 21-19, 21-16 and secure the tie for his side without the need for doubles.
While the result exposed the impact of Sen’s injury-enforced absence, India’s overall performance in the tournament reflected depth and resilience. The bronze medal adds another significant chapter to the country’s recent rise in team badminton.
In contrast, India’s campaign in the parallel Uber Cup 2026 ended earlier than expected, with P. V. Sindhu and the women’s team failing to progress beyond the group stage.
