India’s Thomas Cup campaign ended in disappointment as they slumped to a 0-3 defeat against France in the semifinals, settling for bronze.
The tie turned out to be one-sided, with HS Prannoy, Ayush Shetty and Kidambi Srikanth all falling in straight games.
The absence of Lakshya Sen, who was nursing a swollen right elbow, proved decisive as India failed to win a single match.
Still, reaching the semifinals ensured India added another bronze to their history, having previously finished third in 1952, 1955 and 1979, alongside their landmark title win in 2022.
For France, this was history in the making. They became only the second European nation, after Denmark (2016 champions), to reach a Thomas Cup final.
Ayush vs Christo
Drafted into the opening singles,
Ayush struggled to match the intensity of world No. 4 Christo Popov, going down 11-21, 9-21 in just 39 minutes.
Popov controlled the rallies early, using deep returns and sharp net play to keep Ayush on the back foot. A string of unforced errors from the Indian allowed the Frenchman to surge ahead, taking the first game comfortably.
The second game followed a similar script. Popov dominated the forecourt and repeatedly targeted Ayush’s backhand, racing to an 11-2 lead at the interval and never looking back.
Srikanth vs Alex
All eyes were on Srikanth to pull India level, but Alex Lanier had other plans.
The Frenchman edged a tight opening game 21-16 before closing out the match 21-18.
Srikanth showed flashes of genius during mid-game rallies, but struggled with consistency and unforced errors at key moments. Meanwhile, Lanier’s aggressive pace and control at the net proved decisive, particularly in crunch phases.
Lakshya’s Absence Felt
With the tie slipping away, it was all or nothing for India. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be as the 2023 World Championships bronze medallist HS Prannoy fell 19-21, 16-21, to Toma Junior Popov, confirming India’s exit.
(with PTI inputs)
