France continued their remarkable run at the Thomas Cup, defeating 2022 champions India 3-0 in the semifinals. After stunning 14-time champions Indonesia in the group stage, the French team produced a commanding performance in the all-singles matches to book their place in the final.
Dominant Singles Performances
Christo Popov set the tone with a comprehensive 21-11, 21-9 victory over Ayush Shetty in just 39 minutes. The reigning World Tour Finals champion dominated the net, repeatedly targeting Ayush's backhand corner with powerful smashes and controlling the pace throughout.
Alex Lanier then doubled France's lead by defeating Kidambi Srikanth 21-18, 21-16 in a straight-game win. In the crucial third match, HS Prannoy started well but faded against Toma Junior Popov, losing 19-21, 16-21 to seal India's defeat.
Ayush Shetty Admits Defeat
Ayush, who turns 21 on Sunday, acknowledged Christo's superiority. "I am disappointed with my performance today. Christo was solid... His pace was high and he put a lot of pressure on me," Ayush said. "He was using a lot of deception. It caught me off guard. I was not stable on the court. He just outclassed me today."
Injury Blow for India
India suffered a setback even before the match began as Lakshya Sen was ruled out due to a swollen right elbow. The injury occurred during a dive in the quarterfinals on Friday. Badminton Association of India general secretary Sanjay Mishra stated, "Lakshya sustained an impact to his elbow following an intense quarterfinal match that involved multiple dives. Following a thorough evaluation by the team's medical staff, the decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to allow Lakshya adequate recovery time and ensure he is in optimal condition for the final, should India progress."
China Defeats Denmark in Other Semifinal
In the other semifinal, China won their first two matches against Denmark to set up a title clash with France.
Uber Cup Semifinals
In the Uber Cup, South Korea defeated Indonesia 3-1 and China blanked Japan 3-0, setting up a final between South Korea and China.
