new delhi, May 3
India’s men’s campaign at the Thomas Cup came to an end with a bronze medal after a 0-3 defeat to France in the semifinals, as a dominant French side advanced to their maiden final with an authoritative performance.
Former India chief coach Vimal Kumar said the absence of Lakshya Sen proved to be a decisive factor in the one-sided contest. According to him, the Indian team missed a key player who could have influenced crucial moments in the tie. He acknowledged that while India fell short, the result also highlighted the remarkable progress made by France as a rising force in international badminton.
India suffered a major setback ahead of the semifinal clash when Lakshya Sen, a semifinalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, was ruled out due to an elbow injury. The injury was sustained during India’s quarterfinal encounter against Chinese Taipei, leaving the team without one of its most reliable performers at a critical stage of the tournament.
France capitalised fully on this advantage, with their top singles players delivering commanding performances across all three matches. World No. 4 Christo Popov set the tone in the opening match, defeating India’s Ayush Shetty in straight games 21-11, 21-9 in just 39 minutes. His aggressive play and consistency left little room for a comeback.
The momentum continued in the second singles match, where Alex Lanier overcame Kidambi Srikanth with a 21-16, 21-18 victory. Despite a more competitive contest, Lanier maintained control at key moments to extend France’s lead to 2-0.
In the third singles, Toma Junior Popov sealed the tie with another straight-games win over HS Prannoy, completing a clean sweep and securing a historic victory for France. The result marked France’s first-ever entry into the final of the prestigious team championship.
Vimal Kumar noted that France’s players have been showing exceptional form and confidence, particularly Christo Popov, who has emerged as a standout performer on the international circuit. He pointed out that Popov’s recent successes, including strong performances against top opponents, reflect the growing strength and depth of French badminton.
France had already made headlines earlier in the tournament by defeating strong teams such as Indonesia and Japan, underlining their consistency and readiness to compete at the highest level. Their semifinal victory over India further cemented their status as serious contenders for the title.
France will now face China in the final as they aim to clinch their first Thomas Cup crown. Given their current form and confidence, the final is expected to be a closely contested encounter.
Despite the defeat, India’s campaign ended on a positive note with a bronze medal finish. This marks only the second time that India has reached the semifinals of the Thomas Cup, the first being their historic title-winning run in 2022. The performance reflects the growing competitiveness of Indian badminton on the global stage.
Vimal Kumar concluded that while the loss is disappointing, it also offers an opportunity for the Indian team to regroup and come back stronger in future tournaments. He emphasized that the potential within the squad remains high and that with the right preparation and consistency, India can continue to challenge the world’s best teams.
