Horsens (Denmark) India’s hopes of reclaiming the title ended in disappointment as they went down 0-3 to France in the semifinals of the Thomas Cup Finals, settling for a bronze medal here on Saturday.
The absence of Lakshya Sen proved costly as HS Prannoy joined Ayush Shetty and Kidambi Srikanth in defeat, losing 19-21, 16-21 to world No. 17 Toma Junior Popov, as India failed to win a single game in a completely one-sided contest.
India, champions in 2022, had already assured themselves of a medal by reaching the semifinals, adding to their bronze finishes in 1952, 1955, and 1979
In the opening singles, Ayush Shetty found himself overwhelmed by world No. 4 Christo Popov. The Frenchman showcased relentless pace and precision, never allowing Shetty to find a rhythm. Popov wrapped up a dominant 21-11, 21-9 victory to give France a 1-0 lead.
Veteran Kidambi Srikanth stepped onto the court for the second singles against world No. 10 Alex Lanier, but despite a more competitive showing, he also went down in straight games. Lanier held his nerve in key moments to win 21-16, 21-18, leaving India on the verge of elimination.
With India trailing 0-2 and facing a “do-or-die” situation, HS Prannoy took on Toma Junior Popov. The first game was a tightly contested affair, with Prannoy leading 19-18 before a late surge from Popov saw the Frenchman take the opener 21-19.
In the second game, the momentum swung entirely in favour of France. Prannoy could not withstand Popov’s aggression. Popov raced to a 21-16 win in the second set, sparking celebrations from the French camp as they secured a 3-0 win.
Earlier, India outplayed higher-ranked Chinese Taipei 3-0 in the quarterfinals to storm into the semifinals.
