Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen has been ruled out of India’s Thomas Cup semifinal match against France due to a swollen right elbow. The match is scheduled for Saturday night (May 2, 2026).
In his place, world No. 30 Kidambi Srikanth will step in to compete for India in the important semifinal clash. Team officials confirmed the change after Lakshya was declared unfit to play.
Lakshya Sen had played a brilliant match in the quarterfinals against Chinese Taipei. He showed great fighting spirit by saving two match points and winning a tough three-game battle against world No. 6 Chou Tien Chen. The match lasted one hour and 28 minutes and ended with a 18–21, 22–20, 21–17 victory for Lakshya.
His win helped India secure a strong 3–0 victory over Chinese Taipei and move into the semifinals with confidence. However, the elbow injury he picked up during the match has now forced him to miss the crucial encounter against France.
The team is hopeful that Kidambi Srikanth, an experienced player, will perform well in Lakshya’s absence. India will now look to continue their strong run in the tournament and aim for a place in the final.
Team doctors are monitoring Lakshya’s condition, and further updates on his recovery are expected after the match.