Defending champions India’s aspirations of reaching the Thomas Cup knockout stage as group leaders were shattered by a clinical Indonesia, who won 4-1 in their final pool encounter here on Wednesday. Both India and Indonesia have already qualified for the coveted event’s quarterfinals after winning their first two matches. However, the latter will advance to the knockout round as Group C leaders.
The major benefit from this setback for India was HS Prannoy’s return to winning ways after overcoming health issues. The 2022 Thomas Cup final rematch offered Indonesia an opportunity to extract retribution for their previous 0-3 setback, and they did so with an outstanding performance. Prannoy, India’s number one in men’s singles, gave his team a 1-0 lead after overcoming Anthony Ginting 13-21, 21-12, 21-12 in the first match.
In the first men’s doubles match, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were defeated by Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and Bagas Maulana, the same team who destroyed the Indian couple’s hopes at the previous All England Championship. Satwiksairaj and Chirag lost 22-24 24-22 21-19, bringing the draw even to 1-1. It turned out to be one of the most memorable matches as Indonesia, the tournament’s most successful team, showed that their doubles game remains formidable.
Lakshya Sen lost against reigning All England men’s singles champion Jonatan Christie 18-21, 21-16, 17-21. Sen, 22, boosted hopes when he won the second game with superb net play, but he could not beat a determined Christie in the final. In the fourth match, India’s Dhruv Kapila and Sai Pratheek were defeated in straight games by Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Martin 22-20, 21-11.
Kidambi Srikanth lost the final match, which was a dead rubber, to Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo. Srikanth won the first game 21-19 but lost the second and third games 22-24, 14-21. Earlier, Prannoy put his team ahead after rallying from a game down to defeat Ginting. After appearing foolish in the first game, Prannoy turned things around in the way expected of the country’s top shuttler, decimating his opponent in the next two games to record one of his greatest wins of 2024.
I knew that Ginting was going to be quick in the opening game. But I knew that if I stuck with him in the second game till 13-all, 14-all then I had a chance, Prannoy said after giving India a 1-0 lead. Meanwhile, it was confirmed that the Indian women’s team will take on Japan in the quarterfinals of the Uber Cup on May 2, Thursday.
