After the epochal moment of 2022, when India won the Thomas Cup - the World Men’s Team Championship - for the first time, there was euphoria across the country. Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar and badminton coach Vimal Kumar equated the Indian boys’ inspiring, punching-above-their-weight performance with the seminal moment of Indian cricket: the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
It was indeed an unprecedented, never-seen-before, and almost unimaginable performance in a sport where India was never considered a natural title contender. They were never regarded as being in the same league as the mighty racquet-slaying nations like Indonesia, China, Malaysia, or even Denmark.
But India, unseeded, did the most unexpected by pulling off some of the biggest upsets in the tournament in less than a week to become world champions, in what was a true testament to Indian badminton’s power, growing depth, and talent development.
Kidambi Srikanth, the captain of the side, might not have been enjoying a phenomenal success rate on the BWF World Tour, but at the Thomas Cup, he was playing at a different level. He was at the forefront of India’s coup against Denmark in the quarterfinals, Malaysia in the semifinals, and 14-time champions Indonesia in the final. His partner-in-crime, HS Prannoy, brought out his best too. Together with Srikanth and Prannoy, young Satwik and Chirag - then an emerging pair in world badminton -remained unbeaten in the tournament, winning crucial matches to keep India’s chances afloat.
In the semifinal, India were up against five-time champions Malaysia. But that fact did not rattle the Indians. Lakshya Sen lost again, just like in India’s quarterfinal against Denmark. But Satwik-Chirag chipped in with a crucial win that helped India draw level, and Srikanth and Prannoy took India through to the final.
In the final were 14-time champions Indonesia, a team that had no documented weakness. But India were unbothered by the challenge, and they registered a 3–0 clean sweep to cap off a mind-boggling performance. Lakshya finally fired and pulled off an important win against Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the opener. Satwik and Chirag stunned Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Mohammad Ahsan. The mighty Indonesia found themselves 0–2 down. With India just one win away from history, Srikanth, a dogged senior of several seasons, pulled off a stunning win over Jonatan Christie to give India their first-ever title.
After that high and celebration of 2022, India, however, had a forgettable outing two years later, losing in the quarterfinals against China.
This year, however, there is a clear sense of hope. India’s depth lies in singles. Badminton Asia Championships silver medallist Ayush Shetty’s form is a big positive for India, along with Lakshya Sen, who demonstrated his regained mojo and how brilliant a player he is at the All England Open, the most prestigious event on the World Tour.
Ayush, the 20-year-old, after his giant-killing act at the continental event that saw him knocking then World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Jonatan Christie, and Li Shifeng, will be hungry to prove his mettle again. For him, it is important to remain consistent. At a time when most top Indian players are struggling to be consistent, it is crucial for Ayush to retain his form and fiery game.
It is also expected that World No. 4 Satwik-Chirag will come out all guns blazing after their recent injury layoff, which forced them to miss the Swiss Open and the Badminton Asia Championships. A fit and in-form Satwik and Chirag will be a nightmare for any team and a huge asset for India in men’s doubles.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
