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India's men's and women's badminton teams open their Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals 2026 campaigns in Horsens, Denmark, on April 24. The men, champions in 2022, face Canada first, while the women meet hosts Denmark later at Forum Horsens.
The men's team play Canada on April 24 at 12 PM IST, Australia on April 27 at 12 PM IST, and China on April 29 at 1:30 PM IST. The women face Denmark, Ukraine, and China. All matches air on JioStar Network and stream on JioHotstar.
The women's side begin against Denmark on April 24 at 3:30 PM IST. They then face Ukraine on April 25 and China on April 27, both at 10 PM IST. Only the top two teams from each group move into the knockout stage.
Thomas & Uber Cup 2026: Prannoy Stresses On Positive Starts
Men's singles player H. S. Prannoy stressed the need for sharp starts,
with three tough group ties ahead. The women's squad has a fresh doubles pair, as Shruti Mishra and Priya Konjengbam replace Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand after Jolly's injury.
"We've been putting in the work as a group over the last few weeks, focusing on getting our combinations right and building rhythm across departments, said H. S. Prannoy. He added that the focus is on staying sharp, one match at a time.
Women's team member Unnati Hooda said, "It's a huge stage to be part of, and you can feel how important the Thomas & Uber Cup is the moment you step into the setup. We have a young group this time, and everyone is putting in the work.
Tournament format and India's qualification route
A total of 16 teams feature in both the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals, bringing together top badminton nations. India's men and women qualified as two of the three highest-ranked teams at the cut-off date, underlining steady results at the top level.
The men enter as Thomas Cup winners from 2022, aiming to manage expectations in Horsens. The women carry past semi-final runs from 2014 and 2016, and now bring a blend of youth and experience as they look to build early momentum in the group stage.
Thomas Cup 2026: Men's team fixtures
| Date | Fixture | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| April 24 | India vs Canada | 12:00 PM |
| April 27 | India vs Australia | 12:00 PM |
| April 29 | India vs China | 1:30 PM |
Uber Cup 2026: Women's team fixtures
| Date | Fixture | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| April 24 | India vs Denmark | 3:30 PM |
| April 25 | India vs Ukraine | 10:00 PM |
| April 27 | India vs China | 10:00 PM |
