Horsens (Denmark), Apr 23 (PTI) Banking on a settled core and bolstered by the rise of Ayush Shetty, the Indian men’s team will aim to reclaim the title, while the women’s side looks to punch above its weight at the BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals beginning here on Friday.
India will open their campaign against Canada on Friday, followed by matches against Australia on Monday (April 27) and China on Wednesday (April 29).
Four years ago, India did something unprecedented, annexing the Thomas Cup crown, considered the world team championship of badminton, putting the sport firmly on the radar of the youth in this country.
A bunch of bravehearts, led by Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy, defied all odds as they tamed Denmark, Malaysia and Indonesia en route to that epic moment in Indian badminton history.
That week witnessed Srikanth emerge as the invincible leader, Prannoy the decider specialist, and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty the gentle giants.
Two years later, India’s title defence ended against China in the quarterfinals.
Cut to 2026, there is renewed hope as the Indian men, with the same core and the exuberance of rising star Ayush, are eyeing a repeat.
Ayush is coming off a strong show at the Badminton Asia Championships, where he became the first Indian to reach the final after 61 years, while Lakshya Sen recorded a second runner-up finish at the All England Championships last month.
Both the Indians produced some stunning performances against top players such as Li Shi Feng and Jonatan Christie.
After missing action due to a shoulder injury, Satwik and his partner Chirag will be back with fresh mind and body as India face Pan Am champions Canada, Oceania champions Australia, and 11-time winners and defending champions China in Group A.
“We will have a good chance to win the Thomas Cup again. With Ayush and Lakshya in singles and Satwik and Chirag in doubles, of course everything will have to click,” former India coach Vimal Kumar said.
“India and China should pull through from the group.” The onus will mainly be on the young guns to take India through, as Srikanth and Prannoy are not in the best of form.
While Srikanth had two runner-up finishes last year, he has struggled in the BWF World Tour events. Prannoy too has been bogged down by niggles and endured a forgettable season since the 2024 Olympics, when he battled through chikungunya.
“We’ve been putting in the work as a group over the last few weeks, focusing on getting our combinations right and building rhythm across departments.
“The Thomas Cup is always demanding, and with three tough group ties ahead, the focus is on staying sharp and taking it one match at a time,” said men’s team stalwart Prannoy.
While India will rely on their experience, Kiran George might be called into service for the third singles, while Hariharan Amsakarunan and M R Arjun will shoulder the second doubles responsibility.
India should reach the quarterfinals first, though they are likely to face resistance from world championships bronze medallist Viktor Lai of Canada, who also have a good player in Brian Yang.
In fact, China no longer has that invincible aura of the past and, on their day, the Indian shuttlers are capable of taming them, as Ayush and Lakshya have shown in the recent past.
In the knockout stage, India have the wherewithal to take on any team, and there will be no dearth of motivation and team camaraderie as the core remains the same.
Tough road ahead for women ===================== In the Uber Cup, the Indian women’s team, led by double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, will face Denmark on Friday (April 24), Ukraine on Saturday (April 25), and China on Monday (April 27).
India has won bronze medals in the 2014 and 2016 editions, but it will be an uphill battle this time, especially without the services of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, who is nursing an ankle injury.
The women’s team is clubbed with European Team Championships runners-up Denmark, bronze medallists Ukraine, and 16-time champions China.
India have a young core, with world junior championships bronze medallist Tanvi Sharma, Thailand Open Super 300 winner Devika Sihag, Unnati Hooda, winner of three Super 100 titles and two International Challenge titles, and Isharani Baruah sharing responsibility for the second and third singles.
“It’s a huge stage to be part of, and you can feel how important the Thomas & Uber Cup is the moment you step into the setup. We have a young group this time, and everyone is putting in the work, pushing each other every day in training.
“There’s a lot of energy in the team, and we’re focused on making the most of this opportunity,” said women’s team member Unnati Hooda.
In Treesa-Gayatri’s absence, the pair of Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra will handle the second doubles, while Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi are likely to play the first doubles, with the experience of Tanisha Crasto also coming into play.
A lot will depend on Sindhu as she plays the first singles, but she has struggled to maintain consistency in recent times, with a Malaysia Open semifinal her best show this season. PTI ATK UNG APS APS
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