Thomas & Uber Cup 2025: SAI Backs India with Rs 1.45 Crore; Sindhu, Sen Lead Charge
Synopsis
India sends a star-studded 34-member badminton squad to the BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in Denmark with Rs 1.45 crore SAI backing. With the Thomas Cup title to defend and badminton dropped from the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the Horsens showdown is India's biggest team badminton moment since the historic 2022 triumph.
Key Takeaways
SAI has sanctioned over Rs 1.45 crore in financial and logistical support for India's badminton team at the BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2025 in Horsens, Denmark.
A 34-member Indian contingent — including 20 players, 5 coaches, and 9 support staff — will compete from April 24 to May 3, 2025 .
Star players including PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and Chirag Shetty headline the squads.
India's Thomas Cup men's team faces China, Canada, and Australia in the group stage, while the Uber Cup women's team faces Denmark, Ukraine, and China.
India is defending its historic 2022 Thomas Cup title , the country's first-ever win in the tournament, achieved by defeating Indonesia in the final.
With badminton excluded from the 2026 Commonwealth Games , this tournament is the most significant team event on the calendar before the 2028 Olympic cycle.
New Delhi, April 23: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has sanctioned a comprehensive financial and logistical support package worth over Rs. 1.45 crore for the Indian badminton contingent heading to the BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2025, scheduled from April 24 to May 3 in Horsens, Denmark. The backing underscores India's ambition to defend its Thomas Cup legacy and mount a serious Uber Cup challenge on the global stage.
India's 34-Member Contingent Heads to Denmark
A 34-member delegation — comprising 20 players, five coaches, and nine support staff — will represent India at one of badminton's most prestigious team events. The squad includes marquee names such as PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, and the celebrated doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. Several athletes from the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Core and Development groups are also part of the travelling party, signalling SAI's long-term investment in competitive depth.
The support package approved under TOPS covers airfare, accommodation, visa fees, accreditation charges, daily allowances, food expenses, insurance, and out-of-pocket costs for all team members. SAI has also deployed a full medical and fitness support unit, including specialised coaches, physiotherapists, strength trainers, and masseurs, to travel alongside the players.
Group Stage Draw and India's Challenges
In the Thomas Cup, the Indian men's team has been drawn alongside Canada, Australia, and China — a group that demands peak performance from the first match. China, a perennial powerhouse, will test India's depth and resolve early in the tournament.
The Indian women's team in the Uber Cup faces a similarly demanding group featuring Denmark, Ukraine, and China. Playing in Denmark — on home soil for the hosts — adds another layer of difficulty for the women's side, who will need to deliver consistent performances to advance.
Historic Thomas Cup Win and What's at Stake in 2025
India etched its name in badminton history in 2022 when it clinched the Thomas Cup title for the very first time, defeating Indonesia — the most decorated nation in the tournament's history — in a stunning final. That victory was widely regarded as a watershed moment for Indian men's team badminton, validating years of grassroots investment and elite coaching infrastructure.
Defending that prestige in Horsens is no small task. The 2025 edition carries heightened significance because badminton has been dropped from the 2026 Commonwealth Games programme, leaving fewer high-profile team events on the calendar. This makes the Thomas and Uber Cup the primary stage for India to assert its global standing before the sport returns as an anticipated centrepiece of the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which India is set to host.
Full Squad Breakdown
Thomas Cup 2025 Squad (Men): Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Kiran George, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Amsakarunan Hariharan, MR Arjun, Dhruv Kapila.
Uber Cup 2025 Squad (Women): PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, Isharani Baruah, Devika Sihag, Gayatri Gopichand, Treesa Jolly, S Kavipriya, Simran Singhi, Tanisha Crasto.
Broader Implications for Indian Badminton
The SAI's investment reflects a systemic approach to elite sport development that goes beyond individual medal hunts. With badminton absent from the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Australia, the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals now serve as the de facto world team championship for the sport — making India's participation and performance all the more consequential for rankings, funding cycles, and athlete morale.
Notably, the inclusion of young players like Unnati Hooda, Ayush Shetty, and Isharani Baruah alongside veterans signals a deliberate generational transition. If India can secure deep runs in both draws, it will not only boost world rankings but also strengthen the case for increased government and corporate sponsorship heading into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics cycle.
All eyes will be on Horsens from April 24 as India looks to write the next chapter in its badminton story — with the Thomas Cup to defend and an Uber Cup triumph to chase.
Point of View
But the real test lies in execution — not funding. The 2022 Thomas Cup win was a once-in-a-generation moment, and the pressure to replicate it against a resurgent China will reveal whether Indian men's team badminton has genuinely arrived or merely peaked. The women's group — featuring Denmark on home soil and China — is arguably tougher, and PV Sindhu's form and leadership will be the decisive variable. Critically, with badminton dropped from the 2026 Commonwealth Games, this tournament is the last major team showcase before the 2028 Olympic cycle begins, making every match in Horsens a de facto audition for India's next generation of stars.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where are the BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2025?
The BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2025 are being held in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24 to May 3, 2025. It is one of badminton's most prestigious international team championships.
How much financial support has SAI provided to India's badminton team for the Thomas and Uber Cup?
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has approved a support package exceeding Rs 1.45 crore under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). The package covers airfare, accommodation, visa fees, daily allowances, insurance, and medical support staff.
Who are the key players in India's Thomas Cup and Uber Cup squads?
India's Thomas Cup squad features Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and Chirag Shetty. The Uber Cup squad is headlined by PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, Treesa Jolly, and Tanisha Crasto.
Has India ever won the Thomas Cup before?
Yes, India won the Thomas Cup for the first time in 2022, defeating Indonesia — the most successful nation in the tournament's history — in the final. It was a historic milestone for Indian men's team badminton.
Why is the 2025 Thomas and Uber Cup especially important for India?
Badminton has been dropped from the 2026 Commonwealth Games programme, making the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals the primary high-profile team event for the sport this cycle. India also aims to build momentum ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which India is set to host.
