Horsens, Denmark, April 24: The Indian men's badminton team launched their Thomas Cup 2026 campaign with a dominant 4-1 victory over Canada at Horsens, Denmark, on Friday, April 24, even as the Indian women's team suffered a narrow 2-3 defeat against European silver medallist Denmark in the Uber Cup 2026 group stage opener. The contrasting results set the tone for what promises to be a high-stakes week for Indian badminton on the international stage.

Men's Team Rallies After Lakshya Sen Setback

The tie began on a tense note when Lakshya Sen faced Victor Lai of Canada, a world championships bronze medallist, in the opening men's singles. The two had previously produced a memorable contest at the All-England Championships, where Sen had emerged victorious, making this rematch eagerly anticipated.

Sen started brightly, racing to an 11-5 lead in the first game before closing it out. However, Lai turned the tide in the second game, and despite Sen levelling at 12-12 and again at 19-19, he could not convert. Lai then dominated the decider comprehensively, winning 18-21, 21-19, 21-10 in 71 minutes to hand Canada an early lead.

India's response was swift and clinical. Former world number one doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty dismantled Jonathan Lai and Kevin Lee with a ruthless 21-10, 21-11 scoreline to level the tie. Asian Championships runners-up Ayush Shetty then edged past Brian Yang — 21-13, 21-17 — overcoming a second-game fightback to put India ahead.

The doubles pair of Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun made it virtually certain with a commanding 21-7, 21-15 win over Ty Alexander Lindeman and Nyl Yakura. Veteran Kidambi Srikanth completed the formalities, defeating Joshua Nguyen 21-17, 21-12. The Indian men's next group match is scheduled for Sunday.

Women's Team Fights Hard But Falls Short Against Denmark

The Indian women's team gave a spirited showing against a seasoned Danish side playing on home soil, but ultimately fell short 2-3. PV Sindhu, the former world champion, gave India a rousing start with a hard-fought 21-13, 18-21, 21-17 win over Line Christophersen, showcasing her trademark resilience in a three-game battle.

However, the momentum could not be sustained. Unnati Hooda fell to Line Kjaersfeldt 12-21, 23-25, and Tanvi Sharma lost to Amalie Schulz 21-19, 16-21, 16-21 in another closely contested three-game affair. The doubles pair of Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra came agonisingly close but could not convert crucial match points, losing to Amalie Kudsk and Mette Werge 17-21, 21-11, 21-23.

The consolation point came from the pair of Tanisha Crasto and PV Sindhu, who were leading Alexandra Boje and Christine Busch 19-21, 17-14 when the match was conceded by retirement, with the tie already decided.

India Women Face Uphill Battle — Ukraine and China Await

The defeat means India's women now face an extremely challenging path to the quarterfinals. They must win both remaining group games — against Ukraine on Saturday and a formidable China side — to stand any realistic chance of advancing. China, perennial Uber Cup giants with 15 titles to their name, represent arguably the toughest test in world women's badminton.

This comes amid a broader rebuilding phase for Indian women's badminton. With Sindhu at 29 still carrying the team's fortunes and younger players like Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma still finding their footing at the top international level, the depth question looms large. The Uber Cup remains one of the few team tournaments where individual brilliance alone cannot compensate for collective consistency.

India Men Eye Quarterfinal Berth — Historical Context

For the men's team, this win is a confidence-boosting start. India won the Thomas Cup in 2022 — their first-ever title — ending a 73-year wait and signalling a generational shift in Indian badminton. The 2024 edition saw them exit earlier than expected, making the 2026 campaign a statement of intent for the current crop.

The Satwik-Chirag pair remains India's most reliable weapon, having held the world number one doubles ranking and won multiple Super 1000 titles. Their clinical display on Friday underlines why they are central to India's title ambitions. With Lakshya Sen's loss being the only blip, the men's team looks well-balanced across all five rubber slots.

Full Results — Thomas & Uber Cup 2026 Group Stage

Men — India beat Canada 4-1:

Lakshya Sen lost to Victor Lai 21-18, 19-21, 10-21 | Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty bt Jonathan Lai / Kevin Lee 21-10, 21-11 | Ayush Shetty bt Brian Yang 21-13, 21-17 | Hariharan Amsakarunan / MR Arjun bt Ty Alexander Lindeman / Nyl Yakura 21-7, 21-15 | Kidambi Srikanth bt Joshua Nguyen 21-17, 21-12.

Women — India lost to Denmark 2-3:

PV Sindhu bt Line Christophersen 21-13, 18-21, 21-17 | Unnati Hooda lost to Line Kjaersfeldt 12-21, 23-25 | Priya Konjengbam / Shruti Mishra lost to Amalie Kudsk / Mette Werge 17-21, 21-11, 21-23 | Tanvi Sharma lost to Amalie Schulz 21-19, 16-21, 16-21 | Tanisha Crasto / PV Sindhu bt Alexandra Boje / Christine Busch 19-21, 17-14 (retired).

With the men's team back in action on Sunday and the women facing a do-or-die clash against Ukraine on Saturday, April 26, all eyes will be on whether India can keep both campaigns alive heading into the business end of the group stage.