Indian men begin with 4-1 win over Canada; women go down to hosts Denmark 3-2

India’s campaign at the Thomas and Uber Cup 2026 began on a mixed note with the men’s team winning their tie against Canada while the women lost their opening encounter against Denmark in Horsens, Denmark, on Friday.

Former champions India began their Thomas Cup campaign with a convincing 4-1 win over Canada in Group A. Apart from Lakshya Sen’s loss against world championships bronze medallist Victor Lai in the first match, all the other Indian players won their respective encounters in straight games.

The opening men’s singles encounter between Lakshya Sen and Victor Lai was a rematch of the marathon match between the pair in the recently concluded All England Championships, where Lakshya came out on top.

Lakshya started strong as he opened up an 11-5 lead in the first game and then staved off his opponent to draw first blood. However, Victor then grabbed the initiative in the second before the Indian drew level, first at 12-12 and then at 19-19.

Lakshya Sen, though, could not wrap up proceedings in the next two games with Victor Lai dominating the third to win 18-21, 21-19, 21-10 in an hour and 11 minutes. Pics: Badminton Photo

Lakshya, though, could not wrap up proceedings in the next two games with Victor Lai dominating the third to win 18-21, 21-19, 21-10 in an hour and 11 minutes.

Doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, Asian Games gold medalists, then drew level for India with a clinical 21-10, 21-11 win over Jonathan Lai and Kevin Lee.

SAI backs badminton teams with ₹1.45 crore support, India eyes Thomas & Uber Cup glory

Asian Championships runners-up Ayush Shetty went on to put India ahead by quelling a second game fightback from Brian Yang to win 21-13, 21-17.

The men’s second doubles combination of Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun then sealed the tie for India with a comfortable 21-7, 21-15 win over Ty Alexander Lindeman and Nyl Yakura.

In the final match of the tie, former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth beat Joshua Nguyen 21-17, 21-12.

Indian men will face Australia in their second Group A match at the Thomas Cup against Australia on Monday.

Sindhu gives Indians a good start

Meanwhile, the Indian women’s team lost its Group A opener against Denmark 3-2. Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu gave India a winning start in the Uber Cup after overcoming Line Christophersen 21-13, 18-21, 21-17 in a little over an hour. This was Sindhu’s sixth win in seven encounters against the Danish shuttler.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXhcHazG5yU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

However, Denmark drew level in the very next match after Olympian Line Kjærsfeldt pulled off a 21-12, 25-23 straight-game win over Unnati Hooda. With momentum on their side, Denmark went on to take the lead in the tie after India’s Shruti Mishra and Priya Konjengbam were beaten 21-17, 11-21, 23-21 by Amalie Cecilie Kudsk and Mette Werge.

Denmark sealed the tie in the next match after junior world championships silver medallist Tanvi Sharma was beaten 19-21, 21-16, 21-16 by Amalie Schulz.

In the final match of the tie, PV Sindhu returned to court, partnering Tanisha Crasto in a rare doubles appearance against Alexandra Bøje and Christine Busch.

Sindhu and Crasto lost the opening game, but won the match after Bøje and Busch had to retire midway through the second with the score at 19-21, 17-14.

The Indian women’s next Group A encounter at the Uber Cup will take place against Ukraine on Saturday.