Former champions India faced a shocking 0-3 defeat against France in the Thomas Cup semifinal held in Horsens, Denmark. This loss abruptly ended India’s run in the men’s team badminton competition. France’s victory marked their first-ever entry into the Thomas Cup final, while India settled for a bronze medal.
In the absence of Lakshya Sen due to an elbow injury, Ayush Shetty played the first singles match but succumbed to a 0-2 defeat against World No. 4 Christo Popov. Following this, Srikanth Kidambi also lost his match against World No. 10 Alex Lanier, contributing to France’s lead.
The third singles match saw HS Prannoy engage in a tough battle with World No. 17 Toma Junior Popov but ultimately lost, securing France’s comprehensive 3-0 victory over India. Despite India’s previous success in reaching the semifinals for the second time in the tournament’s history, France’s remarkable performance sealed their spot in the final.
