/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-177726642646749137.webp)
India sealed a place in the Thomas Cup Finals quarterfinals with a commanding 5-0 sweep of Australia in a Group A tie in Horsens on Monday.
India and China occupy the top spots in the group. The 2022 champions had opened with a 4-1 victory over Canada, while China blanked Australia 5-0 and defeated Canada 4-1 earlier in the day.
The two teams will clash in their final group tie on Wednesday to decide the group topper.
Paris Olympian and Commonwealth Games champion Lakshya Sen set the tone with a 21-14, 21-16 victory over Ephraim Stephen Sam, handing India an early lead.
US Open champion Ayush Shetty, who finished runner-up at the Badminton Asia Championships, doubled the advantage with a dominant 21-8, 21-6 win against Shrey Dhand.
India’s top doubles
pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, the Asian Games champions, made it 3-0, beating Rizky Hidayat and Jack Yu 21-14, 21-16 to clinch the tie.
HS Prannoy, a bronze medallist at the 2023 World Championships and Asian Games, extended the lead with a 21-11, 21-17 victory over Rishi Honda Boopathy in under 30 minutes.
In the second doubles, Hariharan Amsakarunan and M.R. Arjun outplayed Andika Ramadiansyah and Ephraim Stephen Sam 21-12, 21-10 as India completed a flawless outing without dropping a match.
Later in the day, India women will take on China in a crucial Uber Cup encounter.
(With PTI Inputs)
