Thomas Cup 2026: India loses semi-final; wins bronze – Highlights
CHRISTO POPOV WINSSS!
Ayush Shetty's radar has been off throughout the evening and it is what brings an end to the contest.
He jabs at the shuttle and it lands long on Popov's forehand corner.
Ayush Shetty goes down 11-21, 9-21 in just 39 minutes!
France take a 1-0 LEAD!
11 MATCH POINTS!
11 match points for Christo Popov this time around. He leads 20-9 and is on brink of putting France in the lead.
Ayush just going through the motions
Some fascinating movements at the net from the two players ans they keep intercepting and returning. It eventually goes Ayush's way and Popov hits long.
However, the point is returned soon as Ayush attempts a round-the-back retrieval with not success. 6-17.
As I type that, he loses the next point as well. 6-18. He is just going through the motions now.
Ayush Shetty trails by 11 points
Just as Ayush got those three points, Popov has returned the favour winning three himself.
The Indian is down by 11 points at 5-16.
3 consecutive points for Ayush
Ayush pulls a point back with a good lift to the back, before Popov shits a cross-court smash into the net.
He wins another and its three-in-a-row for the Indian on an evening where points have been hard to come by. 5-13.
Popov with two points after the interval
Christo Popov now just playing with Ayush's mind. He pushes him to one corner of the court and then returns the shuttle to the other.
Ayush is unable to cope up with the pace and is often caught wrong footed. He trails 2-13.
Popov is outplaying Ayush
Christo Popov is completely outplaying Ayush Shetty in Horsens. The Indian youngster seems to have no answers. His radar being off hasn't helped either.
This isn't looking good for India and Ayush.
Ayush a mere spectator in this match
Christo Popov once again emerging on top out of the net as Ayush loses his footing and tumbles down. 2-8.
A good down-the-line smash from the Frenchman next and Shetty fails to send it over before the latter hits long again. 2-10.
Ayush with a lift to Popov's forehand corner and he picks the bone out of it with a cross court smash.
Ayush trails 2-11 at the mid-game interval!
Ayush loses a challenge
That shuttle landed well out of bounds of the backline and it seemed Ayush took that review just to slow things down. 2-7.
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