Thomas Cup 2024 QF Highlights: China proved too good for India, who suffered another tough defeat in Chengdu.
Thomas Cup 2024 QF Highlights, India vs China : The Indian men’s badminton team lost 1-3 against China in the quarterfinals of the Thomas Cup on Thursday.
Thomas Cup 2024 QF Highlights: Target T Singles win ends India’s title defense 1-3 after loss to China
HS Prannoy, usually a slow starter, turned the tables and played aggressively from the word go but Shi Yu Qi won the game 15-21, 21-11, 21-14 before. The men’s doubles was always going to be critical for India’s chances but world number one Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang defeated Satviksairaj and Chirag Shetty 21-15, 11-21, 21-12.
Lakshya Sen was India’s brightest spark as he earned 13-21, 21-8, 21-14 against Li Shi Feng. But India needed a point from the first two ties to give Kiran George a fighting chance, it was not to be. World No. 11 Ren Jiang Yu and He Ji Ting were overwhelming favorites against Dhruv Kapila and Sai Prateek K as the Indians were beaten 10-21, 10-21.
That India played within 24 hours of their marathon clash against Indonesia last night didn’t help either. The defeat meant India got the worst possible draw for the quarter-finals.
Thomas Cup 2024 QF Highlights :India vs China QF Result
MS1: Shi Yu Qi & HS Pranay15-21 21-11 21-14
MD1: Liang Wei Keng – Wang Chang 21-15 11-21 21-12 Satviksairaj Rankireddy v Chirag Shetty
MS2: Li Shi Feng & Lakshya Sen 21-13 8-21 14-21
MD2: He Ji Ting – Ren Xiang Yu 21-10 21-10 Dhruv Kapila – Sai Pratik K
MS3: Lu Guang Joo vs Kiran George
Thomas Cup 2024 QF Highlights Live Updates: Watch All Live Updates of Indian Men’s Badminton Team Quarter Finals from Chengdu, China
Even after India’s title defense ended at the hands of China, Lakshya Sen’s defense shone
Lakshad Sen’s celebratory racket-flip at the end of a match is usually reserved for special victories. In the bigger picture, India’s Thomas Cup defense didn’t last long in Chengdu on Thursday as he roared with joy in front of his teammates. So it probably won’t rank as something extraordinary in his career. But right then and there, it was a big moment as he defeated his old pal Li Shi Feng after an exemplary fight to give India hope.
Lakshad vanquished the 2023 All England champion and world No. 6 13-21 21-8 21-14 in the third match of the quarter-final between India and China. India’s title defense ended early but, when the dust of disappointment settles, Lakshad’s defence-driven victory over Lee will go down as a significant shot in the arm.
Thomas Cup 2024 QF Highlights: China 3-1 India
Lakshya Sen reflected on his win against Li Shi Feng: “The situation was a little bit complicated and the home crowd went up because they were leading 2-0. I had a do-or-die situation playing in my head in the first game. But the first two games ended quickly. And wasn’t tiring so the decision was to control the net and stay put”.
Thomas Cup 2024 QF Highlights: China 3-1 India
HS Prannoy (via BWF): “We had a long match yesterday when it was a Chinese holiday. It also may have played a role when the rally went long in the third game. But I am happy with the path I fought and will learn a lot from this tournament.’
Thomas Cup 2024 QF Highlights: A legendary salute
So Kento Momota’s international career ended without a match as Malaysia beat Japan 3-1. What a career, though, and what a player. Go well, King Kento.
New Olympic champions are always crowned. Every four years, at any rate. But Kento Momota will be fondly remembered among badminton legions, as one who has gone far. The crown eluded him, but he may have lived longer in the public memory and in the mythology of the shuttle than anyone else with gold around his neck.
An overwhelming favorite for a year since the Tokyo Games, Momota ended up with one of the most overwhelming heartbreaks there, as he crashed out of the last Olympics in the first stage. Thursday, 100 days since the Paris visit. This will be his last assignment after the Thomas Cup.
The 29-year-old refused to shed tears at his retirement press conference for all the lost opportunities, the bad turn of events with a horrific car accident in 2020 and what could have been.