India delivered a dominant performance to defeat Chinese Taipei 3-0 in the Thomas Cup 2026 quarterfinals in Horsens, Denmark, on Friday, securing a place in the semifinals and guaranteeing a medal in the prestigious men's team event.
With the victory, India moved one step closer to another title run after their historic triumph in 2022. The team will now face either Japan or France in Saturday's semifinals as they chase a second Thomas Cup crown.
The result also ensured India's fifth overall medal in the competition, adding to their gold in 2022 and bronze finishes in 1952, 1955 and 1979.
Lakshya Sen sets the tone with gritty opening singles win
Lakshya Sen gave India the ideal start by edging past veteran Chou Tien Chen in a hard-fought opening singles contest that lasted 88 minutes.
The world No. 11
Indian recovered from an early setback to win 18-21, 22-20, 21-17 in one of the most intense matches of the tie.
Lakshya began strongly and held a slender advantage midway through the opening game, but Chou responded with a late surge to take control and clinch the first game. The second game saw the Chinese Taipei shuttler continue his dominance, stretching his lead to 13-7 at one stage.
However, Lakshya showed remarkable composure under pressure, fighting back to level the score at 17-17. Even when Chou held two match points, the Indian held his nerve to turn the game around and force a decider.
In the third game, Lakshya built an early cushion and maintained control despite a late push from Chou. He sealed the match when his opponent's return drifted wide, handing India a crucial early lead.
Satwik-Chirag double India's advantage in tight doubles battle
India's celebrated doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty followed up with another vital victory, overcoming Wang Chi-lin and Chiu Hsiang Chieh in a tense three-game contest.
The Indian duo edged the opening game 23-21 after saving two game points but dropped the second 19-21 as the Chinese Taipei pair fought back to level the match.
In the decider, however, Satwik and Chirag shifted gears and took control, dominating the rallies to close out the match 21-12 and extend India's lead to 2-0.
Their victory placed India firmly in control of the tie and within touching distance of the semifinals.
Ayush Shetty finishes the job with confident straight-games win
Ayush Shetty sealed India's place in the semifinals with a composed straight-games victory over world No. 8 Lin Chun-yi.
The young Indian secured a 21-16, 21-17 win in 48 minutes to complete the clean sweep and officially confirm India's medal.
Ayush initially struggled against the left-handed Lin and trailed 7-11 in the opening game. However, he produced a stunning comeback, winning 10 of the next 11 points to seize momentum and take the first game.
The second game remained closely contested in the early exchanges, but Ayush gradually pulled ahead and maintained his advantage. Although Lin saved one match point, he eventually conceded the match with a long serve, bringing the tie to an end.
India eye another title run after dominant quarterfinal display
India's commanding performance underlined their growing strength in team badminton, with all three matches showcasing resilience, tactical discipline and composure under pressure.
Having secured a semifinal berth and a guaranteed medal, the focus now shifts to their next challenge against either Japan or France. With momentum on their side, India will be aiming to extend their impressive run and move closer to another Thomas Cup title.
