Badminton
Thomas Cup 2026: India loses semi-final; wins bronze โ 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 10:20 PM IST
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!
- 2 May 2026 10:19 PM IST
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.
- 2 May 2026 10:16 PM IST
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.
- 2 May 2026 10:13 PM IST
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.
- 2 May 2026 10:13 PM IST
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.
- 2 May 2026 10:11 PM IST
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.
- 2 May 2026 10:10 PM IST
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.
- 2 May 2026 10:08 PM IST
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!
- 2 May 2026 10:06 PM IST
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.
