Thomas Cup 2024 Highlights: Prannoy, Satwik-Chirag and Co blank England 5-0; India qualify for quarterfinals

India’s incredible Thomas Cup triumph in Bangkok in 2022 required a leap of faith. Never before were India seen as potential World Champions in a badminton team event, so to manifest that into reality, they had to will themselves into believing it. But now that they know it could be done, the objective in Chengdu at the start of their title defence was about ticking small boxes before gearing up for tougher challenges.

It was all the more important because the first match against Thailand was a banana skin. “One match here or there, it could have gone bad for us,” is how HS Prannoy put it. Indeed, the 4-1 scoreline didn’t quite reflect how tricky that match was for India. Even on Monday, Indonesia had some hairy moments against a young Thai side. But the 2022 finalists have come through as expected, with India blanking England, while Indonesia edged past Thailand, to qualify for the quarterfinals. On Wednesday the much-awaited clash between India and Indonesia will decide who tops Group C.

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"Quite tricky conditions, the shuttles are spinning quite a lot, it's unusual. They are dribbling quite a bit, and suddenly wobbling mid-air. Even the singles players are finding it quite difficult to drift the shuttles, so everyone is playing a no-lob kind of game. So when there are patches where you are not able to win a lot of points, you need to be extra aware, as there is no way you can just lift and play around the court. It's quite windy as well so there's drift," Chirag said in the BWF mixed zone after beat Lane-Vendy.

"I'm playing well but it's just that I have not able to pull off the matches, otherwise I feel I am playing OK. Obviously people will compare to how I was playing from 2013 to 2022. But I was in my 20s then (smiles)," Srikanth said in the BWF mixed zone. 

What an honour and privilege to play against my childhood hero, former World number 1, Kidambi Srikanth. A day, I will cherish in my life time. Thank you so much @srikidambi for pic! Much appreciated. ????@BAI_Media @BadmintonEnglnd @BadmintonJust #badminton pic.twitter.com/Hx4SWBZ2uy

— Nadeem Dalvi (@nadeemdalvi34) April 29, 2024

“Things were not going our way always and it’s always difficult to play a left-right combination as we hardly practice against such combinations in India. But we hung in there and that will help us ahead in the tournament,” Satwik said in the mixed zone after another hard-fought win on Monday. 

“What I was feeling was when I eat the food doesn’t go down,” said the world No.9. “Whenever I train (the food) comes up and forward to the chest side and I need to vomit. It is kind of related with the acid reflux obviously. The food is not able to do get down. I can feel the food coming out, that’s where my breathing goes for a toss. I was on a liquid diet before the morning sessions because whatever I was eating was coming up. I couldn’t eat much because I was afraid it would affect the playing schedule. I was ok to not eat and play; the nausea was even worse than not having anything in the stomach. So that’s why I lost 4-4.5 kilos in the last two-three months."

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Gopichand calls not the Olympic, Asiad or Worlds medals as the story of the rise of this sport in India, but these two wins over Canada and Singapore on consecutive days by an Uber Cup squad comprising little-known names, after the top players opted out. Gopichand’s glee is down to a rejection from babudom 30 years ago.

“Back in 1990 (Auckland) and 1994 (Victoria), Indian badminton teams were not cleared to go to the Commonwealth Games because the government told us we had no chance to win against some 5-6 teams. I clearly remember Canada and Singapore were two of those,” he remembers the sting of that rejection. A large part of the 1990s was spent in oblivion.

“For me, the story of badminton’s revival doesn’t start with our All Englands or 2006 when Saina (Nehwal) broke through. It starts after being told ahead of Auckland that India aren’t good enough. We got 0 medals in team events in the 1990s, to the point now where men are defending the Thomas Cup and women are Asian team champions. Now just watch these women – Ashmita, Isha, Anmol, Simran, Ritika, Priya, Shruti and Tanvi – take us into Uber Cup quarters with confidence,” he says.

With or without PV Sindhu, Indian women’s badminton continues its audacious run at international team events

MS1: HS Prannoy 21-15, 21-15 Harry Huang
MD1: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy – Chirag Shetty 21-17 19-21 21-15 Ben Lane – Sean Vendy
MS2: Kidambi Srikanth 21-16 21-11 Nadeem Dalvi
MD2: MR Arjun – Dhruv Kapila 21-17 21-19 Rory Easton – Alex Green
MS3: Kiran George 21-18 21-12 Cholan Kayan

Kiran George seals the tie 5-0: The opening game was quite the battle but Kiran comes through comfortably in the end to complete a 5-0 win for India against England. The defending champions go into the tasty clash against Indonesia in largely good form. 

From Kiran leading 5-4, a run of 8 straight points helped Kiran run away with it. Now he is 2 points away from clinching the match. 

Kiran is in complete control at the moment, after a tight opening game, 

Game 1, Kiran George: Cholan does superbly to make it 18-18 from 10-16 down, but Kiran recovers in the endgame to win three straight points and take the lead.

Oh what a rally! Lovely from both players, patiently constructing the point by moving the corners. Kiran tries to play a backhand touch that just lands wide. 

Kiran has moved ahead post-interval.

Meanwhile, it's official. Both India and Indonesia have qualified for the quarterfinals from the supposed Group of Death. Indonesia defeat Thailand with a match to spare. 

#Chengdu2024 #ThomasUberCupFinals

It's official. India and Indonesia, finalists of 2022, have confirmed their spot in the quarterfinals in 2024. ?

And now on Wednesday, the rematch of the final will decide who tops Group C. https://t.co/iqSVm1xmDv pic.twitter.com/1I4ekRbuux

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) April 29, 2024

A topsy-turvy opening game so far, both players exchange leads but it is Kiran with a small edge heading into the mid-game interval. 

Kiran has been playing catchup in the early stages, but puts one away at the net after a nice rally to sneak ahead. 

Cholan played MS3 against Indonesia as well and lost in straight games against their rising star Alwi Farhan. A nice, long rally here early doors as Kiran makes it 1-1.

Interesting that India didn't opt for Priyanshu Rajawat for the third singles tie, it must be said. Perhaps a decision to give Kiran a game here and Priyanshu could play against Indonesia? Let's see. For now, world No 36 Kiran takes on Cholan Kayan, the world No 209. It's their 2nd meeting, with Kiran winning 22-20 21-16 at the 2021 Irish Open when they last met. 

INDIA MAKE IT 4-0: A tight, exciting game of men's doubles but Ajrun and Dhruv come through in straight games. Had a blip in the 2nd half of the 2nd game but overcame it in the nick of time to avoid a decider. Arjun with a nice service return to set up the match in the end.

Two match points for the Indians and it is Green once again in their way, a good service return followed by a winner. 

And Green with another superb winner, lovely racket-head change. Draws level at 18, and then on dear, what a point to hit a serve into the net! 

Green on the charge. And the Englishmen are back level! 

What a rally! Terrific from Easton to keep the rally going despite a late call to lift, but Arjun puts it away in the end. The Indians are back in the driver's seat 

A run of FIVE straight points for the English pair and we are all square in the game. Make that six, as Dhruv sends one wide as Easton-Green take the lead. Loose from the Indians since the interval. They get the serve back at 13-all. 

Good judgement from Dhruv to let a low serve drop out of the service box and Indians take a 4-point lead into the mid-game interval of Game 2. 

Elsehwere on Court 2, Christie came through a tricky test to win in three games and put Indonesia up 2-1. A doubles win there now will ensure both India and Indonesia qualify for the knockouts. 

Another net cord early in Game 2 goes Dhruv's way. And now a lovely low serve winner. 

Textbook backhand defense ???

Photo: Tang Shi pic.twitter.com/d3VX5eIiXs

— Viktor Axelsen (@ViktorAxelsen) April 29, 2024

Game 1, Dhruv-Arjun: It kept getting tight, but the Indians kept pulling away. A lovely rally on game point, Arjun takes charge from the backcourt while Dhruv puts it away from the net with a little help from the tape. 

Oh fine margins. Easton could have made this a 1-point game but he rushes to the net too eagerly and ends up netting the shuttle. And it is a 3-point lead for Indians just like that. 

Certainly not been easy for the Indians here so far but they are staying ahead. The tall Easton is putting away some winners, but the Indians do seem to have the tactical edge in most rallies. 

Just for some context on the rankings of the English pair. Rory Easton has been as high as 51 in the world with Zach Russ while Green has also been in the top 100 with another partner. So 238 is a bit deceiving, as we see them close the gap down to 1 point. But Arjun and Dhruv do enough to take a 3-point lead into the interval. 

A good start for the Indians in MD2 as well. 

Time for the 2nd doubles tie and India are again favourites here. Arjun-Dhruv, in good recent form, should have too much firepower against the world No 234 pair of Easton and Green. 

#Chengdu2024 #ThomasUberCupFinals

Thailand are certainly not making things easy for Indonesia (and once again I wonder why Kunlavut didn't play!)https://t.co/iqSVm1xUt3 pic.twitter.com/ac0aPpD540

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) April 29, 2024

INDIA CLINCH THE TIE: Srikanth Kidambi wins his match on a run of EIGHT straight points from 13-11 and with that India have clinched the tie 3-1 against England. The defending champions have all but sealed their place in the knockouts once more. 

A run of SEVEN straight points for Srikanth now and the the fight's gone out of the Englishman in this. 

Lovely hold and flick from Srikanth, Nadeem thinks this is a net shot and goes forward and Sri sends it over him. That's the former world No 1 at his creative best. 

He's probably still going to win this in straight games but the number of errors from Srikanth today have been on the higher side. 

Srikanth opened up a 7-2 lead but Nadeem closes the gap down, a 3-point lead for Srikanth at the mid-game interval. The Indian cheer squad continues to make a lot of noise. 

Game 1, Srikanth: Credit to Nadeem for taking as many as 16 points, but Srikanth does enough to take the lead, a flat winner on his third opportunity to convert. Time for a quick word with Kashyap and Gopichand. 

Six game points for Srikanth, one saved by Nadeem after a good rally ends with a Sri error at the net. Make that 2 saved as the Englishman nails a smash to Srikanth's backhand side. 

Nadeem throws in a few winners every now and then but Srikanth staying ahead comfortably. 

Meanwhile, a cheer-squad update... 

#Chengdu2024 #ThomasUberCupFinals

Tough to say from this one camera broadcast of Court 3 but feels like the Indian cheer squad have some sort of their own music system in place?

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) April 29, 2024

Yes they got all covered with drums trumpets all. Some of those are already brought for thomas cup during sankranthi festival

— Team Satwik (@team_satwik) April 29, 2024

Srikanth trying to paint the lines as he usually attempts to anyway, but missing a fair few here. Nadeem closes the gap to 3 on the back of a couple of errors from the Indian veteran. 

Nadeem has done alright so far, Srikanth a little bit erratic to start but the gulf in class is already clear. 

Going by the scoreline in England's tie against Indonesia, Nadeem seems to have given a good account of himself in a 16-21 12-21 defeat against Jonatan Christie. After a slow start here, Srikanth is now taking charge. 

Next up, Srikanth in action (reminder that Lakshya Sen is not playing today) as he takes on world No 198 Nadeem Dalvi. A win here for Sri will all but seal India's passage to quarterfinals. 

SatChi make it 2-0: Chirag with a superb defensive lift, Satwik with the winner as SatChi seal the deal. The Indian star doubles pairing overcome a mid-match blip, to retake control in the third game and seal the deal against the tricky English pairing of Lane and Vendy. Dominant in the decider. 

Now a service fault from Vendy as Indians have 5 match points. 

Oh, nice dodging by Satwik to let a shuttle go long! Lane doesn't agree though. No reviews on this court of course. Chirag with a good point at the net after that and the slide has been arrested just in time by SatChi.

A bit closer in the last few exchanges but SatChi staying ahead by a few points. Oh, another service fault for height called on Satwik. He is frustrated. A quick rally follows that ends with Chirag sending one into the net. The Indians must be careful here to not the momentum shift. 

And once again, the Indians are asserting their class in Game 3, just as they did against Thailand. 

Meanwhile, the Thai teenagers who troubled Satwik-Chirag, have defeated Alfian-Ardianto over on Court 2 to pull Thailand level 1-1. Wonder if Thailand are regretting not fielding Vitidsarn here, could've been 2-0.

Satwik's superb smash to the fore again as the Indians take a 3-point lead into the final change of ends.

Oh a really good reflex third shot from Satwik but it is not enough to win the point. Next rally, Lane puts away another winner from the frontcourt as the English duo close the gap before the change of ends. 

Couple of lovely serves from Satwik, draws errors on the returns and the Indians inch ahead by a couple of points. Another error from Vendy this time and it's a 3-point cushion after what feels like a long time for the Indian duo. Make that 4 now as SatChi play a superb defensive point before Satwik gets the chance to put away a big smash to draw another error. 

Ben Lane is on fire at the moment. A super smash past Chirag's right hip, the unreturnable kind. Then a terrific winner at the net. He's everywhere. The Indians then play a good attacking point to make things level at 4-4. 

Nothing to separate the two pairs at the start of the decider. This still feels like anybody's game. 

This is the first time in six matches between these two pairs that we have a deciding third game. 

DECIDER TIME: Good serve return from Chirag to save one game point. But the Englishmen force the decider as Satwik's flick serve goes long! Once again, SatChi taken to three games in Chengdu.