India’s men’s badminton team signed off with a bronze medal at the Thomas & Uber Cup 2026 after suffering a 0-3 defeat to France in the semi-finals in Horsens, Denmark.
The result marks the country’s second podium finish in the prestigious team championship following their historic title triumph in 2022, reaffirming India’s status among the world’s elite badminton nations.
However, the absence of spearhead Lakshya Sen due to an elbow injury proved a significant setback. The top Indian singles player was ruled out as a precautionary measure after sustaining a swollen right elbow during India’s quarter-final victory over Chinese Taipei.
Youngster Ayush Shetty, handed the opening singles responsibility, was comprehensively outplayed by World No. 4 Christo Popov, going down 11-21, 9-21 in just 39 minutes.
France strengthened their grip when Alex Lanier defeated Kidambi Srikanth 21-16, 21-18. With the tie already decided, HS Prannoy fought hard but lost 19-21, 16-21 to Toma Junior Popov, completing France’s clean sweep.
Missed opportunity but promising signs of depth
The semi-final loss will be viewed as a missed chance to reach a second final in four years. Yet, India’s campaign showcased resilience and growing squad strength.
The team delivered a dominant 3-0 quarter-final win over Chinese Taipei to book their semi-final spot and secure at least a bronze, with impressive performances across singles and doubles.
The emergence of talented youngsters like Ayush Shetty alongside experienced campaigners such as Srikanth and Prannoy highlights the increasing depth in Indian men’s badminton. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also provided solidity in the doubles, even if they were not called upon in the semi-final.
France, on the other hand, produced a historic run, advancing to their maiden Thomas Cup final after impressive victories over strong opponents, including Japan in the quarter-finals.
