‘Lakshya’s absence was felt,’ says Vimal Kumar as France sweep India 3-0 to end Thomas Cup campaign

India’s men’s campaign at the Thomas Cup came to an end with a bronze medal after a 0-3 defeat to France in the semifinals, as a clinical French side stormed into their maiden final.

Former India chief coach Vimal Kumar said the absence of Lakshya Sen proved decisive in the one-sided contest.

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“Lakshya’s absence was certainly felt at crucial moments. France completely overwhelmed India today. That said, this result also highlights just how much France has grown as a badminton nation, they’re progressing rapidly and competing with real authority at the highest level,” Vimal said.

Also Read: Lakshya Sen out of Thomas Cup semi-final vs France with elbow injury

India were dealt a major blow ahead of the tie as Paris 2024 semifinalist Lakshya Sen was ruled out due to an elbow injury sustained during the quarterfinal against Chinese Taipei.

France capitalised fully, with their top three singles players delivering commanding performances to shut India out.

World No. 4 Christo Popov set the tone, defeating Ayush Shetty 21-11, 21-9 in just 39 minutes. Alex Lanier followed up by beating Kidambi Srikanth 21-16, 21-18 to double the lead.

In the third singles, Toma Junior Popov closed out the tie with a straight-games win over HS Prannoy, sealing a historic victory for France.

“Looking ahead, they will carry strong belief into the final, especially if it’s against China. With the form they’re in, they have every chance of making it a closely fought contest. Christo Popov continues to be a standout performer. Winning the year-end finals last season and delivering such dominant performances, like his exceptional display against Indonesia, where he convincingly beat Jonatan Christie, shows the level of confidence and quality he’s bringing to the court,” he added.

France, who had earlier stunned Indonesia and defeated Japan 3-0 in the quarterfinals, will now face China in the final as they chase a historic first title.

Despite the loss, India secured a bronze medal, reaching the semifinals for only the second time in the tournament’s history after their title-winning run in 2022.

“For India, this is a moment to regroup and come back stronger. The potential in this team is unquestionable,” Vimal concluded.