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

India have been dealt a major blow ahead of the Thomas Cup 2026 semi-final, with Lakshya Sen ruled out of the clash against France due to an elbow injury sustained during the quarterfinals.

The world No. 6 picked up the injury after an intense match that saw him repeatedly dive on court, forcing the team management to take a precautionary call ahead of Saturday’s tie.

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“Following a thorough evaluation by the team’s medical staff, the decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to allow Lakshya adequate recovery time and ensure he is in optimal condition for the final, should India progress. He is currently under close medical observation and receiving all necessary support. The team remains confident and optimistic about his swift recovery and return to peak form,” Sanjay Mishra, general secretary, said in a statement.

Sen is currently under close medical observation, with the team remaining optimistic about his recovery.

The setback comes just after a heroic performance from Sen in the quarterfinals, where he battled past Chou Tien Chen in a gripping three-game contest, winning 18-21, 22-20, 21-17. The Indian shuttler showed immense resilience, saving two match points in the second game before turning the tide in his favour.

With the tie finely poised, Sen stepped up in the decider with aggressive, attacking play to give India the early advantage.

India carried that momentum forward, as the experienced doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty extended the lead to 2-0 with a clinical performance.

Rising talent Ayush Shetty then sealed the tie in style, defeating reigning All England champion Lin Chun-Yi 21-16, 21-17 to complete a dominant 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei.

The 2022 champions India now face France in the semi-final, but Sen’s absence adds an unexpected twist to their campaign as they chase another shot at the Thomas Cup title.