Horsens [Denmark], May 1 (ANI): Former champions India outplayed higher-ranked Chinese Taipei to storm into the semifinals and likewise guarantee themselves of a medal within the Thomas & Uber Cup 2026 in Horsens, Denmark, on Friday.
The 2022 champions defeated a robust Taipei outfit 3-0 within the males’s quarterfinals and can now face the winner of the match between Japan and France for a spot within the remaining, in accordance with a press launch.
World no. 6 Lakshya Sen gave India the profitable begin as he saved two match factors within the second recreation to beat Chou Tien Chen 18-21, 22-20, 21-17 in an hour and 28 minutes.
The opening match between Sen and Chou, who had a 4-4 head-to-head document earlier than this conflict, was a topsy-turvy affair as each gamers overcame a sizeable deficit within the first two video games to take the match to a decider.
While Chou fought again from 10-15 within the first, Sen trailed 14-17 within the second earlier than saving two match factors.
Sen, the two-time All England finalist, then stored his nostril forward within the third with a robust attacking play handy India the primary level.
The former Asian champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty then made it 2-0 for India with a medical displaying within the decider.
The Indian mixture had saved two recreation factors to take the opening recreation towards Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin.
Though they misplaced the shut second recreation, Satwik and Chirag raised their ranges within the decider auto register their third straight win over the Taipei pair.
This meant that Asian championships silver medallist Ayush Shetty had an opportunity to wrap up the quarterfinal for India, and the 20-year-old delivered the ultimate blow.
Shetty, who had remained unbeaten all through the group stage, outmuscled reigning All England champion Lin Chun-Yi 21-16, 21-17 in 48 minutes to kick off celebrations within the Indian camp,
Shetty had overturned a 10-12 deficit within the opening recreation by bagging seven straight factors and by no means appeared again from there on. He at all times appeared in management within the second recreation, underlining his improvement as a top-class shuttler in the previous couple of months.
Result: Men: India bt Chinese Taipei 3-0 (Lakshya Sen bt Chou Tien Chen 18-21, 22-20, 21-17; Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty bt Chiu Hsiang Chieh/Wang Chi-Lin 23-21, 19-21, 21-12; Ayush Shetty vs Lin Chun-Yi 21-16, 21-17). (ANI)