The men’s team, which scripted history by winning the 2022 Thomas Cup, will back themselves to progress to the knockout stage from a group that also features Pan Am champions Canada and Oceania champions Australia.
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The Indian men’s and women’s teams have received a favourable group-stage draw for the Thomas and Uber Cup 2026, scheduled in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24 to May 3. Seeded eighth based on their players’ world rankings, both Indian teams have been placed in Group A alongside defending champions and top seeds China.
The men’s team, which scripted history by winning the 2022 Thomas Cup, will back themselves to progress to the knockout stage from a group that also features Pan Am champions Canada and Oceania champions Australia.
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The women’s side, however, faces a relatively tougher challenge, having been drawn alongside European team championship runners-up Denmark and bronze medallists Ukraine in their group.
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“We have got a decent draw and a chance to reach the quarterfinals in both the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup competitions. We have a strong team that has proved that they can beat any top team on their day, and after reaching the quarterfinals, anything is possible,” said Badminton Association of India (BAI) secretary Sanjay Mishra.
While India’s men’s team will be looking to replicate their 2022 success, the women’s team will aim to improve on their previous best finishes of bronze medals in 2014 and 2016.
The upcoming edition marks the 34th staging of the Thomas Cup and the 31st edition of the Uber Cup. A total of 16 teams will compete in each tournament, divided into four groups of four teams each.
In the group stage, teams will face each other in ties comprising five matches — three singles and two doubles — with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.
At the previous edition held in Chengdu in 2024, the Indian men were knocked out in the quarter-finals by eventual champions China, while the women’s team also exited at the same stage after losing to Japan.
Historically, Indonesia remain the most successful team in the Thomas Cup with 14 titles, while China lead the Uber Cup honours with 16 titles.
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