India’s men’s badminton team is set to face France in the semifinals of the Thomas Cup 2026 today at Horsens, Denmark. The winner of this match will move into the final of the prestigious tournament.
India reached the semifinals after a strong 3–0 victory over Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals. The team played very well and showed solid performance in all matches.
However, India has suffered a setback as top shuttler Lakshya Sen has been ruled out due to a swollen elbow injury. Because of his absence, experienced player Kidambi Srikanth will step in to replace him.
The team lineup has now been adjusted for the semifinal clash. In the opening singles match, Ayush Shetty will face world No. 4 Christo Popov. In the second singles, Kidambi Srikanth will take on world No. 10 Alex Lanier.
In the third singles match, HS Prannoy will compete against world No. 17 Toma Junior Popov. These matches will be important in deciding the outcome of the tie.
If the contest moves to doubles matches, Hariharan Amsakarunan and M. R. Arjun are expected to face Eloi Adam and Leo Rossi in the first doubles rubber. In the final match, India’s top-ranked pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will take on the Popov brothers.
India has already secured at least a medal by reaching the semifinals. The team has a strong history in the Thomas Cup, having won the title in 2022 and also winning bronze medals in 1952, 1955, and 1979.
Fans are now hopeful that the team will continue their good form and reach another final in this year’s tournament.