Strong comeback after early setback puts Indian men in command in Denmark
Punjab Newsline | National
India’s men’s badminton team kicked off their Thomas Cup campaign in style, securing a convincing 4-1 victory over Canada in their opening Group Stage clash in Horsens, Denmark, on Friday. Despite an early stumble, the former champions showed resilience and depth to dominate the tie and begin their journey on a confident note.
The contest didn’t start as planned for India, as Lakshya Sen went down fighting in the opening singles match against Victor Lai. Lakshya looked in control early on, building a solid lead and clinching the first game 21-18. However, Lai staged a remarkable comeback, taking the next two games 21-19 and 21-10 to give Canada an early advantage.
India quickly regrouped, with the dependable doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty restoring balance. The pair delivered a commanding performance, brushing aside Jonathan Bing Tsan Lai and Kevin Lee in straight games 21-10, 21-11 to level the tie.
Riding on that momentum, Ayush Shetty put India ahead with a composed and confident display against Brian Yang. The youngster controlled the match from the outset, sealing a 21-13, 21-17 win and giving India a crucial 2-1 lead.
The second doubles pairing of Hariharan Amsakarunan and M.R. Arjun further strengthened India’s position. With aggressive play and sharp coordination, they outclassed their opponents with a dominant 21-7, 21-15 victory, ensuring an unassailable 3-1 lead for the team.
With the tie already secured, experienced shuttler Kidambi Srikanth wrapped up proceedings in style. He delivered a clinical performance against Joshua Nguyen, winning 21-17, 21-12 in just over half an hour to complete the 4-1 scoreline.
India will next face Australia on April 27 as they aim to build on this strong start. Meanwhile, the women’s team is also in action, taking on Denmark in their respective tie.