Men’s singles player Lakshya Sen will not participate in the semi-final match against France in the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2026 due to an elbow injury sustained after a rigorous quarterfinal match involving multiple dives. The team’s medical staff decided as a precautionary measure to allow Sen sufficient recovery time for the final, should India advance. Sen, currently under close medical observation, is receiving necessary support for a swift recovery, as stated by Sanjay Mishra, the team’s general secretary.
World no. 6 Lakshya Sen secured a crucial win for India in the quarterfinals by defeating Chou Tien Chen 18-21, 22-20, 21-17 after saving two match points in an hour and 28 minutes. The match between Sen and Chou was intense, with both players overcoming deficits in the first two games to force a decider. Chou fought back from 10-15 in the first game, while Sen trailed 14-17 in the second before saving two match points.
Sen, a two-time All England finalist, displayed strong attacking play in the third game to give India the lead. The former Asian champions, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, extended India’s lead to 2-0 with a convincing performance in the decider. Ayush Shetty, who remained unbeaten in the group stage, defeated reigning All England champion Lin Chun-Yi 21-16, 21-17 in 48 minutes to contribute to India’s victory.
India, the 2022 champions, defeated Taipei 3-0 in the men’s quarterfinals and will now face the winner of the Japan-France match for a place in the final.
