India’s men’s badminton team kicked off their Thomas Cup campaign with a strong performance, defeating Canada 4-1 in their opening group stage match in Horsens, Denmark. Despite an initial setback with Lakshya Sen losing the first match, the team rallied back with impressive wins.
In the doubles event, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty secured a crucial victory, leveling the tie by defeating Jonathan Bing Tsan Lai and Kevin Lee in straight games. Ayush Shetty and another doubles pair, Hariharan Amsakarunan and M.R. Arjun, further extended India’s lead to 3-1 before Srikanth Kidambi sealed the victory with a 4-1 win.
Lakshya Sen displayed a strong start in his match, taking the opening game but eventually succumbed to Victor Lai in a hard-fought battle. The Indian team showcased dominance in the subsequent matches, with consistent performances leading to a convincing overall win.
India’s next challenge in the Thomas Cup will be against Australia on April 27, while the women’s team is currently competing against Denmark.
