India claims bronze medal following semifinal defeat against France.

Indian men’s badminton team concluded their Thomas Cup 2026 campaign with a bronze medal after suffering a 3-0 defeat against France in the semifinals on Saturday. Competing at the Forum Horsens in Denmark, the defending champions from 2022 struggled to find their rhythm following a major injury setback to their top-ranked singles player.

France made history by reaching their first-ever final in this competition, outclassing the Indian side in every department. The absence of Lakshya Sen, who withdrew due to a swollen elbow sustained during the quarterfinals, proved to be a significant hurdle. Ayush Shetty stepped into the opening singles role but fell to world No. 4 Christo Popov in a quick 21-11, 21-9 contest.

Battles on Court

Kidambi Srikanth attempted to bring India back into the tie during the second singles match against Alex Lanier. Despite a gritty performance, the veteran went down 16-21, 18-21. This left the pressure on HS Prannoy to keep the tie alive against Toma Junior Popov. Prannoy fought hard in the opening game but eventually lost 19-21, 16-21, sealing the victory for the French squad. Reaching the semifinals marks only the second time in the modern era that the Indian men have secured a podium finish, following their historic gold medal victory in Bangkok four years ago. This result ensures India remains a powerhouse in global badminton despite the semifinal exit.