Chengdu, China – India’s men’s badminton team secured a place in the semifinals of the Thomas Cup 2024 on Friday, May 3, by delivering a decisive 3-0 victory over Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinal round. The dominant performance in Chengdu assures India of at least a bronze medal in the prestigious international team championship.

The Indian contingent showcased strong individual performances to sweep the opening three matches, preventing the need for the remaining two ties. This triumph marks a significant step for the Indian team, which previously clinched the Thomas Cup title in 2022, defeating Indonesia in the final. Their advancement to the semifinals reaffirms their status as a formidable force in global badminton.

The quarterfinal tie began with Lakshya Sen, India's top singles player, facing world No. 14 Chou Tien Chen. Sen demonstrated resilience and skill, overcoming his higher-ranked opponent in straight games with scores of 21-19, 21-15. This crucial opening win provided India with an early 1-0 lead and set a positive tone for the team.

Following the singles victory, India's world No. 3 men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, extended the lead. They confronted Chinese Taipei’s Olympic gold medalists Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin. The Indian duo executed a commanding performance, securing their match with scores of 21-17, 21-15, further strengthening India’s position at 2-0. Their win highlighted the depth of talent within the Indian team across both singles and doubles categories.

The decisive third match saw HS Prannoy, ranked world No. 13, compete against Chinese Taipei’s Chia Hao Lee. Prannoy maintained India's momentum, winning his singles match 21-18, 21-19. This victory sealed the tie for India at 3-0, rendering the subsequent men's doubles and men's singles matches unnecessary.

Key details from the quarterfinal matches:

  • Men's Singles 1: Lakshya Sen (IND) defeated Chou Tien Chen (TPE) 21-19, 21-15.
  • Men's Doubles 1: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (IND) defeated Lee Yang/Wang Chi-lin (TPE) 21-17, 21-15.
  • Men's Singles 2: HS Prannoy (IND) defeated Chia Hao Lee (TPE) 21-18, 21-19.

With this dominant performance, India has ensured a medal at the 2024 Thomas Cup. The team will now prepare to face Indonesia in the semifinals. Indonesia, a powerhouse in men's badminton and a 14-time Thomas Cup champion, presents a significant challenge. The semifinal clash is scheduled for Saturday, May 4, as India aims to defend its title and reach the final once more.