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 10:40 PM IST
A service error from Srikanth
Srikanth trumps at the net to win the first point after the interval, but then his the shuttle flush onto the net with his serve. 8-12.
- 2 May 2026 10:38 PM IST
Kidambi Srikanth loses a challenge
A lift from Alex Lanier called in at the backline. Srikanth asks for a review immediately and is proven wrong.
Kidambi Srikanth after matching Lanier shot-for-shot for most part has gone down by four points at the first mid-game interval. He trails 7-11.
- 2 May 2026 10:37 PM IST
Brilliant smash from Srikanth
Alex Lanier wins two points and Srikanth pulls it back with a stunning cross-court smash.
Vintage SriKi this. Goes to the back court, leaps and hits the shuttle with all the power he has. 7-9.
- 2 May 2026 10:36 PM IST
Srikanth doing well
There were questions if Srikanth will be able to cope up with Lanier's speed coming into this contest.
But he has done extremely well so far to keep the world No 10 in check. Still early days in the match, but these are encouraging signs for India.
Srikanth trails 6-7.
- 2 May 2026 10:33 PM IST
A close start
Back-to-back errors from Kidambi Srikanth as Alex Lanier opens up a two-point lead at 5-3.
Lanier, then, ends up putting a drop shot wide on Srikanth's backhand side. 4-5.
The umpire announces the score 4-5, and Srikanth is confused. "Sorry, 4-5," the umpire quips.
- 2 May 2026 10:31 PM IST
Kidambi Srikanth equalises
A brilliant-down-the line smash from Srikanth to reduce the deficit to 2-3.
It is followed by another smash, which is returned by Lanier but this time Srikanth jumps on to the net to kill the point. 3-3.
- 2 May 2026 10:29 PM IST
Alex Lanier wins first two points
Alex Lanier jumps into the net straight away and directs the shuttle into Srikanth's empty back-hand fore court to win the first point.
Srikanth then goes long to trail 0-2.
The Indian, however, pulls a point back with a jump-smash from the midcourt. 1-2.
- 2 May 2026 10:26 PM IST
Kidambi Srikanth to receive first
Alex Lanier wins the toss and opts to serve first. Kidambi Srikanth chooses the near end of the court.
A classic generational battle. India will hope experience trumps youth tonight in this battle.
- 2 May 2026 10:25 PM IST
UP NEXT: Kidambi Srikanth v/s Alex Lanier
Kidambi Srikanth, former world No 1 and India's 2022 Thomas Cup hero, steps out to court No 2.
He is up against Alex Lanier, the world No 10. It will be the first meeting between the two.
- 2 May 2026 10:23 PM IST
Ayush Shetty's first loss of the tournament
Christo Popov is the first shuttler to register a win over Ayush Shetty in the 2026 Thomas Cup.
Ayush was up 4-0, having won all four matches heading into the semi-final.
