Denmark’s Horens arena witnessed Indian badminton dominance as the men’s team locked in their Thomas and Uber Cup 2026 semifinal berth with a 3-0 rout of Chinese Taipei. Building on their 2022 semifinal breakthrough after decades, India showcased grit and precision in this pivotal group match.
Lakshya Sen set the tone against Cho Tien Chen, turning a first-game loss into a hard-fought 18-21, 22-20, 21-17 victory. Facing three match points in the second game, Sen’s composure flipped the script, leading to a third game where he surged ahead and repelled Chen’s final push over 88 grueling minutes.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty then delivered in doubles, edging out Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin in three games: 23-21, 19-21, 21-12. From 18-20 down in the first, they rallied; after a competitive second, they overwhelmed in the decider, building a 9-3 lead and never looking back.
Youngster Ayush Shetty wrapped it up efficiently, defeating Lin Chun-Yi 21-16, 21-17 to confirm the 3-0 lead. Second in the group after China, India gears up for a semifinal against either France or Japan. This win highlights the team’s depth, with Sen’s resilience and the doubles duo’s firepower proving decisive in high-stakes encounters.
