India dethroned 14-time champions Indonesia to clinch the first-ever Thomas Cup title in Men’s Badminton.
In its 73-year-long history, India had never reached the final of the Thomas Cup till this year. With new talents supported by experienced shuttlers, the Indian Men’s Badminton team scored above other nations in this edition to become only the 6th nation after China, Indonesia, Japan, Denmark, and Malaysia to win the Thomas Cup title.
India did not need the second doubles match and the third singles match as Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikant won their respective singles match while Chirag Shetty/Satwiksairaj Rankireddy won the doubles match to give India a 3-0 win over Indonesia.
In the first match of the tie, which lasted for 65 minutes, World Number 9 Lakshya Sen won 8-21, 21-17, 21-16 in his square off against World Number 4 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting.
The doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were up against Mohammad Ahsan and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo in the second match of the tie. They lost the first game 18-21 and later saved four match points in the second to make a sensational comeback. They won the last two games 21-23, 21-19 in a match that lasted 73 minutes. India led by 2-0.
As Kidambi Srikanth beat Jonatan Christie 21-15, 23-21 in the third match of the tie, it was history for India. With chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and the sound of Dhol reverberating at the whole stadium, the Indian players celebrated with joy being the first team to win the Thomas Cup.
India’s Road to the Title
Group Match 1- Beat Germany by 5-0
Group Match 2- Beat Canada by 5-0
Group Match 3- Lost to Chinese Taipei by 2-3
Quarter Finals- Beat Malayasia (5-time champion) by 3-2
Semi Finals- Beat Denmark (2016 champion) by 3-2
Final- Beat Indonesia (14-time champion) by 3-0
