Lakshya Sen saved two match points to beat World No. 6 Chou Tien Chen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty added a gritty doubles win before Ayush Shetty delivered the final blow as India registered a commanding 3-0 victory over Chinese Taipei to storm into the semifinals of the Thomas Cup Finals on Friday.

Lakshya, who kept on trailing for the better part of the contest, showed remarkable resilience to script an 18-21, 22-20, 21-17 victory in a marathon clash lasting one hour and 28 minutes.

World No. 4 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, the Asian Games champions, then defeated Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin 23-21 19-21 21-12 in an hour and 15 minutes to put India in a commanding position.

The onus then shifted to Ayush Shetty, and the youngster delivered. The 20-year-old, who recently reached the final of the Badminton Asia Championships, produced a breathtaking display, blending disciplined defence with attacking flair to notch up a 21-16, 21-17 win over World No. 8 and reigning All England Open Badminton Championships champion Lin Chun-Yi in the second singles to seal the contest.

“This is not just a win to celebrate, it’s a performance to remember. One that reflects belief, preparation and the growing strength of Indian badminton,” former India coach Vimal Kumar said.

India, the 2022 champions, will face either France or Japan in the semifinals. The victory also assured India a medal in the prestigious Thomas Cup Finals, regarded as the World Men’s Team Championships.

India had won the Thomas Cup in 2022, besides winning bronze medals in 1952, 1955 and 1979. “The team has every reason to be proud. And perhaps more importantly, this is the kind of victory that builds belief for what lies ahead,” Vimal said.

Lakshya vs Chou

With the head-to-head locked at 4-4 prior to this contest, the two engaged in another absorbing duel marked by long rallies, precise stroke play and intense momentum swings. Chou displayed his experience in the opening game, recovering from 10-15 down and overturning a late deficit to take the lead.

Lakshya, however, responded under pressure in the second game. Trailing 13-17, the Indian reeled off four straight points to draw level. Chou earned two match points, but Lakshya held his nerve, saving both before closing out the game to force a decider. The 36-year-old Chou appeared to fade physically in the third game as Lakshya seized control with an 11-7 lead at the interval and maintained his composure to seal the contest.

Satwik and Chirag, on the other hand, struggled early with multiple service fault calls disrupting their rhythm. But after being tied at one game apiece, they came into their own and won the decider quite easily. Ayush also delivered a composed and attacking performance to outplay Lin, who wasn’t 100 per cent as he has been managing a leg injury, the heavy strapping being an indicator.

Also read: India take on Chinese Taipei in Thomas Cup quarterfinals