2 min learnMight 2, 2026 07:48 AM IST
France defeated Japan 3-0 to make a historic march into the semifinals of the Thomas Cup the place they’ll play India on Saturday night time 9.30 pm IST.
After India blanked Chinese language Taipei 3-0, France proceeded to equally drub Japan 3-0, on the again of three straight singles wins.
Final yr’s World Tour Finals champion and World No 4 Christo Popov defeated No 9 Kodai Naraoka, 21-17, 21-17. Whereas Alex Lanier breezes previous Yushi Tanaka, 21-15, 21-17.
Within the third singles, Toma Jr Popov, older brother of Christo, received the battle of Prime 20s, with Toma at No 17 and Koki Watanabe at No 20. Watanabe supplied some resistance earlier than shedding 21-19, 23-21.
The French are on a excessive and had threatened to make it 2/4 European groups in Thomas Cup, alongside Denmark who led Thailand 2-0.
China and India have certified for the semis already.
The quirk with taking part in France is, all their three singles essentially play first three rubbers, as a result of Toma Jr and Christo are additionally France’s first doubles pair. Nevertheless with Toma lining up in third singles and a compulsory one match hole crucial, the French second pair, Eloi Adam and Leo Rossi play the fourth match.
Lakshya Sen leads Christo Popov 6-2 in face to face, although they’ve solely performed twice in final 5 years. Sen received the final assembly at Hylo Open.
Story continues under this advert
World No 10 Alex Lanier is one other powerful opponent for Ayush Shetty, an outdated nemesis from juniors, although they’ve by no means performed in seniors.
Earlier, India swept previous Chinese language Taipei 3-0 after Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty and males’s duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty received their respective video games, assuring India of at the least a bronze medal.
Lakshya gave India the early lead after he received 18-21, 22-20, 21-17 in opposition to World No. 6 Chou Tien Chen in a battle which lasted an hour and 28 minutes.
Satwiksairaj-Chirag delivered a high-octane match in opposition to Wang Chi Lin and Chiu Hsiang Cheh to win, 23-21, 19-21, 21-12 earlier than Ayush Shetty completed the job with a 21-16, 21-17 victory over World No. 8 and All England Open winner Lin Chun-yi in 48 minutes.