When India took on France in the semi-finals of the Thomas Cup 2026 on Saturday, May 2, it felt more like a raucous football match and less like badminton. Despite hosts Denmark taking on China on the second pitch at the Forum Horsens Arena, the Indian and French fans dominated the decibel meters and turned the semi-final into an electric, high-voltage clash.
The 0-3 scoreline that saw India eliminated from the competition did not reflect the way the tie wore on as the evening wore on. There were many moments when the French camp fell silent and many phases where their players looked under pressure and a little shaken, but somehow they managed to pull out the win. In doing so, they helped their nation register their first ever finals appearance at the tournament.
The French, led by Toma Junior Popov and Christo Popov, defeated India in straight games to help France become only the second European nation, alongside Denmark, to reach the final of the competition. It was a historic moment for the Popov brothers who carried the weight of the nation on their shoulders and produced exceptional badminton to defeat a strong Indian side in straight games.
Without the services of Lakshya Sen, India’s calculations were thrown out the window as they were forced to play youngster Ayush Shetty in the first singles of the match and then 33-year-old Kidambi Srikanth in the second singles against world number 10 Alex Lanier.
Lakshya, who pulled off a sensational victory against world number six Chou Tienchen in the quarter-finals, was ruled out of the play-off due to a swollen elbow and blisters on his feet. He watched in pain as India were beaten in three consecutive matches in little over two hours. Lakshya Sen saw himself injured in a diving save against Chinese Taipei. (photo of badminton)
One may argue that India were put on the back foot even before the tie began as the side could not field their strongest players against France’s best combination.
Since Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov play both singles and doubles for the French team, the tie was not sorted in the usual way. Instead of the traditional order, the matches were arranged as follows to ensure sufficient rest for the French players:
- First Singles: Ayush Shetty (18) Vs. Christo Popov (4)
- 2nd Singles: Kidambi Srikanth (30) Vs. Alex Lanier (10)
- 3rd Singles: HS Prannoy (35) Vs. Toma Junior Popov (17)
- First Doubles: Hariharan/MR Arjun (34) Vs. Adam/Rossi (52)
- 2nd doubles: Satwik/Chirag (4) vs. Christo/Toma (21)
The arrangement was specifically made so that Toma and Christo would get a mandatory one-match break before their doubles match. Due to Lakshya’s absence, the Indian singles team faced an uphill battle against higher-ranked opponents and ended up with a 0-3 sweep.
India’s best chance to win this tie, the doubles, never materialized as the team failed to win a single match against France on Saturday.
AYUSH SHETTY IS SHORT
The fabulously talented Ayush Shetty seemed to dominate the stage on the day as left-handed Christo Popov toyed with him to win 21-11, 21-9 in just 39 minutes. The gap in composure and control was obvious from the start.
Ayush later reflected on his performance and admitted that he couldn’t settle for Christo’s deception and relentless pace.
“He was using a lot of tricks which caught me off guard. I wasn’t really stable on the court. Overall his pace was really high and he was putting me under pressure,” said Ayush Shetty.
“My overall game plan wasn’t right. I think he just outclassed me today,” he added.
KIDAMBI GIVES HOPE
Dark clouds hovered over India after Ayush failed to hold his own against Christ. It would not be fair to expect Kidambi Srikanth to dominate world number 10 Alex Lanier in the second singles.
But Kidambi tried, and he tried deliberately. He played from the heart and brought an old elegance to the court. He pushed Lanier deep, used smart slices and redirected smashes with finesse, making the Frenchman run tirelessly around the court. Kidambi Srikanth fought hard in the men’s second singles. (photo of badminton)
Lanier was upset to the point that the French camp, by then extremely vocal, sat back in their seats and almost wanted the youngster to survive Kidambi’s experience and guile.
However, the veteran Indian shuttler’s accuracy let him down at crucial moments. He repeatedly shot from strong offensive positions, allowing Lanier to stay in the contest and eventually take control. Srikanth eventually clinched the match in straight games.
Lanier celebrated as he sealed a 21-16, 21-18 win against the 33-year-old, giving France a 2-0 lead in the tie.
PRANNOY FIGHTS BUT TOMA WINS
The weight of the nation rested on HS Prannoy as he retired to third singles. Prannoy, who has battled multiple health issues over the last few years, produced arguably India’s most competitive performance.
Facing Tom, Prannoy started cheerfully. The Indian camp found their voice again and chants of “HSP, HSP” rang out across the arena as they took the lead in the opening game, the first time India took control at any point in the tie.
But once again, accuracy proved to be expensive. As Toma Popov increased the pace of the rally, Prannoy’s reactions were not quick enough to consistently keep the pace.
Despite leading most of the opening game, Prannoy let his two-point lead slip away in the closing stages and eventually dismissed him 19-21. HS Prannoy play a shootout in the semi-finals of the Thomas Cup. (photo of badminton)
The second game tilted more in favor of Tom, who controlled the tempo and dictated the game. Prannoy made a brief comeback in the latter stages of the do or die game but once again unforced errors, especially wide shots, proved to be his undoing.
The last point of the match perhaps summed up the whole day for India. Forced into a frantic exchange at the net, Prannoy tried to break through Tom’s defense. The Frenchman hung on desperately, soaking up the pressure until Prannoy finally hit the net to give up the game, the match and thus the tie.
HOW GREAT WAS LAKSHYA’S PRESENCE?
Badminton coach Vimal Kumar reacted to the loss after the match. Speaking to India Today, he said that Lakshya’s absence was felt at crucial moments.
“France completely overpowered India today and Lakshya’s absence was definitely felt at crucial moments. That said, this result also highlights how much France has grown as a badminton nation. They are progressing quickly and competing with real authority at the highest level,” said Vimal.
“Christo Popov continues to be an outstanding player. Winning the year-end final last season and putting in such dominant performances as his standout performance against Indonesia where he convincingly beat Jonatan Christie shows the level of confidence and quality he brings to the court. This is a time for India to regroup and come back stronger. The potential of this team is undeniable,” he concluded.
As India walk out of the Thomas Cup, there is an unmistakable feeling in the air that France have in many ways given India a similar run against India themselves. In 2022, during India’s title campaign, nobody gave Kidambi Srikanth’s side much of a chance. In 2026, few would bet on France reaching the final. Yet here they are, on the backs of fearless youngsters who played their hearts out and made the Arena their own on this unforgettable night in Horsens.
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
03 May 2026 01:40 IST
