Badminton
Thomas Cup 2026: India loses semi-final; wins bronze – Highlights
Check out all the Highlights from the 2026 Thomas Cup Semi-final between India and France.
Indian men's badminton team celebrate after winning the 2026 Thomas Cup quarter-finals (Photo credit: Badminton Photo/BWF)
2026 Thomas Cup Highights: The Indian men's badminton team clinched a bronze medal at the 2026 Thomas Cup, losing their semi-final 0-3 to France in Horsens, Denmark on Saturday.
All three of Ayush Shetty, Kidambi Srikanth, and HS Prannoy lost their respective singles matches in straight games as India failed to advance to the final.
While Shetty went down 11-21, 9-21 to Christo Popov, Srikanth lost out 16-21, 18-21 to Alex Lanier.
Prannoy then surrendered 19-21, 16-21 to Toma Junior Popov as France reached their first Thomas Cup final.
The men's doubles pair of Hariharan Amsakarunan-Arjun MR and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty weren't even called into action.
Earlier, Lakshya Sen was ruled out of the semi-final after having picked up an elbow injury during the quarter-final match.
Highlights:
Live Updates
- 2 May 2026 11:09 PM IST
Exchange of points
The pressure is building on both players now. Multiple errors from both sides sees serves being exchanged after each point.
Srikanth trails 18-19.
- 2 May 2026 11:07 PM IST
A shot hit out-of-bounds from Srikanth, before Lanier finds the net. The Indian is down 16-17.
- 2 May 2026 11:07 PM IST
Kidambi Srikanth fighting back
Alex Lanier lifts and Srikanth answers with a brilliant cross court smash. 13-16.
Another lift from Lanier gone long and it is now a two-point game 14-16.
The world No 10 once again asks for a review to slow the game down and sacrifices a challenge for greater good.
But unlike the first game, it doesn't work this time around. Another shot hit long from Lanier and its now a one point game.
Srikanth trails 15-16!
- 2 May 2026 11:05 PM IST
Srikanth hanging on
Alex Lanier has once again gone for the kill right after the mid-game interval, but Srikanth is hanging on somehow.
A shot into the net from the world No 10 before a smash gone wide helps Srikanth reduce the deficit to 12-15.
Lanier, however, course corrects soon and pulls a point back with a brilliant body smash. 12-16.
- 2 May 2026 11:03 PM IST
Srikanth loses a challenge
Alex Lanier has doubled his lead post the mid-game interval and to make matters worse Srikanth has lost a challenge as well.
He fells his shot has landed inside the sidelines but is proven wrong. The Indian trails 10-14.
- 2 May 2026 11:02 PM IST
HS Prannoy & Toma Junior Popov warming up
Visuals from the practice arena show HS Prannoy and Toma Junior Popov warming up. They will be the next in action.
- 2 May 2026 11:01 PM IST
Srikanth TRAILS!
A two-point advantage for Alex Lanier as he leads 11-9. The early second half is where he ran away with the first game in. Can he do it again? Or will Srikanth force a decider?
- 2 May 2026 11:00 PM IST
Srikanth giving it his all
A net dribble gone wrong for Srikanth as the shuttle fails to crossover. It is followed by an error in judgement at the back-line from Lanier. 9-9.
The next point sees the shuttle take the tip of the net and roll over to Srikanth's side. The India dives full length and retrieves, but in the process is almost on the opponent's side.
Lanier returns the shot but Srikanth is back up in a jiffy to play back. The former world No 1's return is out of bounds. 9-10.
- 2 May 2026 10:57 PM IST
This is exciting badminton
After a slew of points for Srikanth, Lanier finally pulls one back as the Indian hits into the net.
Srikanth, however, pounces on the serve and pushes the shuttle once again to Lanier's forehand corner. The Frenchman has no answers. 8-8.
- 2 May 2026 10:56 PM IST
Srikanth equalises!
Back-to-back points for Srikanth as Lanier lifts long before the Indian places the shuttle well to deceive the French shuttler on his forehand side.
Srikanth is now trailing only by a point at 6-7.
The former world No 1 once again exploits the space Lanier is leaving on his forehand side with a cross court smash to level up. 7-7.
