Thomas Cup 2024 Highlights, India 1-3 China Quarterfinal: Lakshya gets sole win as defending champion crashes out

It was always going to be a tough task for defending champion India to defeat 10-time winner China in its own backyard. While three of the four matches did go to a decider, the Chinese looked in control for most of the time and ended up being on the right side of the result. 

Eleven match points for China. They waste the first one. But a brilliant return on the second one ends the proceedings. China knocks out defending champion India to reach the semifinals!

Quite a few lucky net shots for the Chinese duo as it moves closer to the finish line.

A run of four straight points for the Chinese pair ends. 

A five-point lead for He and Ren at the mid-game interval. 

Three straight points for the Chinese pair. Looking to get done with this as quickly as possible.

A start similar to the opening game. Chinese pair committing uncharacteristic errors.

He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu wrap up the opening game in just 16 minutes. China one game away from knocking the defending champions out of the competition.

Well, the second half of this opening game has been absolutely one-sided. Ten game points for the Chinese pair. 

The Chinese pair is slowly pulling away in the opener. Five-point gap now.

This has been a close first game so far. Just a two-point lead for the Chinese pair at the mid-game interval.

Four points on the trot for the Indians. They are not going down without a fight.

Three straight points for the Chinese pair before a return goes wide. The duo challenges the call unsuccessfully.

No sign of nerves in the early stages of this must-win doubles match for the Indians. 

It’s a tough task for the makeshift pair of Dhruv and Pratheek to beat World No. 11 He and Ren. It’s another must-win match for India. Can they pull off a miracle here?

Lakshya Sen hits a strong smash down the line and the return from Li does not go beyond the net. Lakshya opens India’s account and keeps it alive in the contest.

Crosscourt smash from Li goes wide. Lakshya moves to within two points of the win. 

Li sends a down-the-line smash wide. Crosscourt smash winner from Lakshya and the Indian has a five-point lead.

A very important rally for Li and he wins it, keeping his defence tight and eventually forcing Lakshya to make an error. The Indian is in the lead but it is still very close.

Li ends Lakshya’s three-point winning streak with a vicious jump smash in the middle.

Well, if Li can do it, so can Lakshya. Another delightful net shot.

Perfect net shot from Li and the scores are level.

Lakshya goes for a quick kill after an exchange of net shots but ends up hitting it straight into the net.

Lakshya enters the final change of ends with a slender three-point lead. Still, anybody’s game. 

Three errors in a row from Lakshya and Li is back on level terms.

Net shot from Lakshya lands wide but he challenges the call. Unsuccessful.

Four straight points for Lakshya before Li ends the streak with a kill.

Deft touch. Lovely net shot from Lakshya.

Li goes for a quick kill but he plays it right in the striking zone for Lakshya who sends the return towards the back court.

Yet another body smash tried by Li and yet again, Lakshya sends the return into the empty court. 

Down-the-line smash from Lakshya. Li seems to be content with getting done with this game and moving to the decider. Absolutely no extra ounce of energy wasted by the Chinese shuttler. Lakshya wraps up the game with eight points on the trot.

A gruelling rally - 43 shots - for both the players but Lakshya comes out on top and moves closer to clinching the game.

Like the first two matches, this one too seems to be headed towards a deciding game as Lakshya stretches his lead to six points.

Lakshya has been solid when it comes to defending the body smashes. Li tries to target him with one and the Indian responds as he has been throughout the match. Four-point lead for Lakshya at the mid-game interval.

Great crosscourt drop shot from Lakshya. Levels the score in the second game.

The clear from Lakshya goes well past the baseline and Li takes the lead.

Amazing defence from Li Shi Feng and it is forcing Lakshya to play a few more shots, resulting in more errors. 

Crosscourt jump smash winner from Lakshya.

Li Shi Feng wraps up the opening game with a simple smash right in the center of the court.

Longest rally of the match - 68 shots - ends with a crosscourt return from Lakshya hitting the net to give Li seven game points.

After nine straight points, Li Shi Feng sends a simple down-the-line jump smash wide. 

The lift from Lakshya goes long and the streak for Li continues.

Six straight points for Li Shi Feng. What a turnaround!

Down-the-line smash from Lakshya goes well wide of the inner side line and the score is level again.

Crosscourt net shot from Li goes wide. Two-point lead for Lakshya at the mid-game interval.

Powerful jump smash down the line from Lakshya to level the score again.

Error in judgement from Lakshya as the lift from Li lands inside the baseline.

Still, nothing much to separate the two shuttlers.

A close start to the second singles. A must-win one for Lakshya.

While Li (World No. 6) is the higher ranked player, Lakshya (World No. 13) leads the head-to-head record 6-3.

Nine match points for Liang and Wang. The Indians save one. Still, a long way to go. Liang and Wang convert the second match point and seal the deal. China takes a 2-0 lead!!!

Still an eight-point advantage for the Chinese duo. Moving closer to the finish line.

Eight-point lead for the Chinese pair. The Indians need a miracle to save this tie.

The Chinese pair is in total command. Tough for the Indians to come back from here. Not impossible though.

Seven-point lead at the final mid-game interval for the Chinese pair. 

One error after another for the Indians. Big lead for the Chinese pair.

An error from Wang allows the Indians to open their account but the same player wins the next point with a crosscourt net shot.

Deciding game. The Chinese duo wins the first five points. What a start for the home favourites!

Nine game points for the Indians. But they only need one. Onto the decider we go!

Lovely crosscourt net shot winner from Chirag. The Indians are close to taking this to a decider.

Satwik-Chirag maintain the five-point lead.

Lovely flick serve by Chirag. 

A slender three-point lead for the Indians at the mid-game interval.

Sensational defending from Satwik to keep the rally going despite the pressure from the Chinese pair. 

Satwik and Chirag have taken the lead. Momentum shift? Wait and watch!

A rare moment of misunderstanding between the Chinese pair as both of them end up being on the same side of the court and the shuttle lands on the other side.

The Indians finally end the five-point streak of Liang and Wang.

But the Chinese duo responds by winning five points in a row. Amazing coordination between Liang and Wang. World No. 1 for a reason.

Indian pair wins the first two points of the second game. 

Five game points for the Chinese duo. Wang Chang converts the first one with a quick kill. 

Three straight points for the Indians. Is there a twist in the tale?

Liang and Wang about to wrap up the opening game. 

Service error from Satwik. Free point for the Chinese pair.

Good crosscourt return from Satwik from the back of the court and it eventually turns out to be a winner.

Four points on the trot for China. They have just now allowed Satwik and Chirag to settle.

A five-point advantage for Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang at the mid-game interval.

The Chinese pair continues to maintain a healthy lead.

Clever return from Satwik catches the two Chinese players off-guard. However, they challenge the call and as it turns out, the shuttle landed beyond the baseline.

Dream start for Liang and Wang. Five straight points. Finally, a lift from Wang goes long and so, the Indians open their account.

Chirag to serve. Fast start from the Chinese pair as it wins the first three points of the match. 

Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang are the current World No. 1 while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are former World No. 1 but World No. 3 at the moment. The Chinese duo leads 4-1 in the head-to-head record. 

Seven match points for Shi Yu Qi. Error in judgement from Prannoy as Shi Yu Qi’s lift lands well inside the court and that’s it. Shi Yu Qi wins the first singles and puts China 1-0 ahead.

Two straight points for Prannoy before he makes a mess of a regular jump smash, sending it wide.

Sensational rally, probably the best one of the entire match. Both players had chances to clinch the point but Shi Yu Qi came out on top with a brilliant net shot after a desperate diving retrieve.

The Chinese player is running away with this now. Five-point lead. Prannoy looks physically spent.

Two straight points for Prannoy before he nets a return. Cannot afford to make such errors at this stage.

Crosscourt smash from Shi Yu Qi goes wide and the gap is down to two points. But it is back to three again as the lift from the net from Prannoy goes long. Well constructed rally from Shi Yu Qi, making Prannoy move from corner to corner before finishing with a crosscourt net shot.

Lift from Prannoy goes wide and Shi Yu Qi enters the final mid-game interval with a three-point lead.

Rare miss from Shi Yu Qi as he sends a net shot wide. Lucky one for Shi Yu Qi as the drop shot hits the top of the net and lands bang on the inner sideline.

Crosscourt return from Shi Yu Qi has been called in. Prannoy challenges the call unsuccessfully. Some outrageous defending by the Indian in the next rally but Shi Yu Qi eventually wins the point with a beautiful drop shot.

The net shots from Shi Yu Qi have been absolutely brilliant today. Another one wins him one more point.

Shi Yu Qi misjudges the trajectory of the lift from Prannoy. Challenges the call unsuccessfully. 

Deciding game. Prannoy wins the opening exchange with a strong jump smash with Shi Yu Qi not being able to lift the shuttle above the net. However, the Chinese player wins the next two points, the second one with a gorgeous net shot. Make that three on the trot.

Ten game points for Shi Yu Qi. And he closes the game at the second time of asking as Prannoy nets a lift.

Prannoy manages to deceive Shi Yu Qi yet again but the lift lands beyond the baseline.

Short lift from Prannoy and it finishes with an easy smash down the line from Shi Yu Qi. Three straight points for the Chinese shuttler and he is close to taking this rubber to a deciding game.

Prannoy loses a point for obstruction and he is clearly not happy with the decision. Two successive points for the Indian post that little controversy.

Two straight points for Prannoy before Shi Yu Qi wins the battle at the net.

The Chinese shuttler is clearly dominating the second game. An easy down-the-line smash to enter the mid-game interval with a seven-point advantage.

Glorious net shot from Shi Yu Qi. Prannoy had no chance as he had positioned himself towards the back of the court. Shi Yu Qi’s lead increases as Prannoy sends a drop shot wide. Crosscourt lift from Prannoy goes wide.

Great crosscourt net shot from Shi Yu Qi, the lift from Prannoy is short and he gets out of the way as Shi Yu Qi hits a vicious jump smash. Another sequence of three straight points for China before Prannoy wins one with a kill.

Three points on the trot for the Chinese shuttler before he drives one into the net.

Crosscourt jump smash from Prannoy wins the opening point of the second game. Shi Yu Qi makes it 1-1 with a crosscourt smash.

Shi Yu Qi saves the first one with a body smash on Prannoy. However, the Indian hits a brilliant net shot at the end of the next exchange to clinch the opening game.

Powerful smash down the line from Prannoy and he now has six game points.

Longest rally of the match so far - 30 shots - and Prannoy wins it with a quick drive. Shi Yu Qi seemed to be in control of the rally but could not finish it. Great defence from Prannoy as Shi Yu Qi hit a quick body shot and the Chinese shuttler, clearly not expecting a return, nets the drive.

Prannoy wastes a challenge as Shi Yu Qi’s crosscourt smash landed well inside. The gap is down to three points now.

Shi Yu Qi tries to test Prannoy’s reflexes with constant change in direction but the Indian is up to the task and eventually, Shi Yu Qi sends a return wide. 

Prannoy’s serve return hits the net and drops dead on the opposite side. Lucky point for the Indian.

Shi Yu Qi slowly finding his rhythm. Three points in a row. Short lift from Prannoy and Shi Yu Qi makes it four points in a row with a crosscourt drop.

Shi Yu Qi seemed to be in control of the rally but its Prannoy who comes up with a winning return as he complete wrongfoots the opponent.

Just the start India would have hoped for. A six-point lead for Prannoy at the mid-game interval.

Prannoy wins the battle at the net with a delightful crosscourt return. Next point goes to the Chinese shuttler courtesy a strong crosscourt jump smash.

Shi Yu Qi finally wins the point with a down-the-line smash after losing the last seven. And he makes it two in a row, this time with a crosscourt drop.

Six points on the trot for the Indian. Fabulous start.

Prannoy sends the drop shot wide and loses the point but judges the trajectory of the lift correctly in the next rally as the shuttle lands beyond the baseline. Crosscourt smash from Prannoy draws the error from Shi Yu Qi.

Shi Yu Qi serves. Prannoy nets a return and the first point goes to the home favourite. Prannoy equalises with a drop shot. 

The two teams are ready for the contest. China is 10-time winner while India is the defending champion. Whose campaign will end today? First up, H.S. Prannoy is up against Shi Yu Qi. Both shuttlers have entered the arena.

H.S. Prannoy will take on Shi Yu Qi in the opening singles. Shi Yu Qi is ranked World No. 2 while Prannoy is World No. 9. The Chinese shuttler leads the head-to-head record 6-2

In Thomas Cup, India and China’s most recent meeting took place in the group stage of the 2020 edition in Aarhus, Denmark. India lost 1-4 with only Satwik-Chirag winning their doubles match.

India and China’s men’s team’s most recent meeting took place during the group stage of the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Malaysia in February this year.

India lost the tie 2-3 with only Prannoy and Lakshya managing wins in their respective singles rubbers.

The young Indian team suffered a 3-0 defeat against Japan in the quarterfinals of the Uber Cup. 

1st Singles: H.S. Prannoy vs Shi Yu Qi

1st Doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty vs Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang

2nd Singles: Lakshya Sen vs Li Shi Feng

2nd Doubles (If required): Dhruv Kapila/K. Sai Pratheek vs He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu

3rd Singles (If required): Kiran George vs Lu Guang Zhu

Live telecast of the Thomas Cup quarterfinal between India and China will be available on Sports18. Live stream of the same will be available on JioCinema.

It is time for the knockout stages of the Thomas Cup and defending champion India takes on top seed China. Live action begins from 2:30PM IST. Till then, stay tuned as we build up to this exciting clash!