Lakshya Sen's comeback seals India's 3-0 Thomas Cup semis march over Chinese Taipei
Synopsis
Lakshya Sen's nerve-wracking comeback—saving three match points in the second game—ignited India's clinical 3-0 dismantling of Chinese Taipei in the Thomas Cup quarterfinal. With Satwik-Chirag and Aiyush Shetty delivering dominant performances, India stormed into the Horsens semifinals, their first appearance in the last four in 43 years. The stage is set for a potential clash with France or Japan on Saturday.
Key Takeaways
India defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0 in the Thomas Cup quarterfinal at Forum Horsens on 1 May 2026 .
Lakshya Sen beat Chou Tien Chen 18-21, 22-20, 21-17 in 88 minutes , saving three match points in the second game.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won their doubles match 23-21, 19-21, 21-12 against Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin .
Aiyush Shetty sealed the sweep with a 21-16, 21-17 victory over Lin Chun-Yi .
India's semifinal opponent will be either France or Japan , with the match scheduled for Saturday .
Horsens, May 1 — Former champions India secured a place in the Thomas Cup semifinals by clinching an unbeatable 3-0 lead over Chinese Taipei in their quarterfinal encounter at Forum Horsens in Horsens, Denmark, on Friday. The Indian men's badminton team, which finished second behind China in their group stage, advanced with dominant performances across singles and doubles.
Sen's nerve-wracking comeback
Lakshya Sen ignited India's charge with a stunning come-from-behind victory against Chou Tien Chen, winning 18-21, 22-20, 21-17 in 88 minutes. Facing three match points in the second game, Sen saved all three to force a decider. In the third set, he mixed deceptive net play with cross-court smashes, racing to an early lead and maintaining control despite a late rally from Chen.
Satwik-Chirag's recovery in doubles
The former World No. 1 pairing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty extended India's advantage to 2-0 with a 23-21, 19-21, 21-12 victory over Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin. After trailing 18-20 in the opening game, the Indian duo staged a recovery to claim it 23-21. Though Chinese Taipei levelled the match by taking the second game, Satwik-Chirag dominated the decider, racing to a 9-3 lead and eventually sealing the match 21-12.
Shetty seals the knockout
Aiyush Shetty wrapped up the quarterfinal with a straight-games victory over Lin Chun-Yi, winning 21-16, 21-17 to confirm India's 3-0 sweep and semifinal berth.
Road to the semis
India will face the winner of the France versus Japan semifinal match on Saturday, with the tournament final scheduled for Sunday. This marks a significant milestone: India last reached a Thomas Cup semifinal in 2022 — their first appearance in 43 years. Before that, Indian men had reached the semis in 1952, 1955, and 1979.
Point of View
Yet he found the precision to force a decider and then the aggression to dominate it. This is the India that can compete with the world's best. Satwik-Chirag's comeback from 18-20 down in the opening game of the doubles showed the same grit. If India can sustain this intensity against France or Japan, a final berth is within reach. The 43-year semifinal drought has broken; now comes the harder test.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Lakshya Sen beat Chou Tien Chen in the Thomas Cup quarterfinal?
Lakshya Sen defeated Chou Tien Chen 18-21, 22-20, 21-17 in 88 minutes. After losing the first game, Sen faced three match points in the second game but saved all three to force a decider. In the third set, he dominated with deceptive net play and cross-court smashes to secure the victory.
Who did Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeat in the doubles?
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin of Chinese Taipei 23-21, 19-21, 21-12. The Indian pair recovered from an 18-20 deficit in the opening game to win it 23-21, then dominated the decider.
When is India's Thomas Cup semifinal match?
India's Thomas Cup semifinal is scheduled for Saturday, 2 May 2026, against the winner of the France versus Japan quarterfinal. The tournament final will take place on Sunday, 3 May 2026.
How long has it been since India last reached a Thomas Cup semifinal?
India last reached the Thomas Cup semifinal in 2022, marking their first appearance in the last four in 43 years. Before that, Indian men reached the semis in 1952, 1955, and 1979.
