India vs France Highlights, Thomas Cup Semi-final: Prannoy goes down fighting, France defeat India 3-0, advance to final

That’s it from us in our coverage of the Thomas Cup semi-final showdown between India and France. Thank you and good night!

Here’s a summary of results in the France vs India semi-final: 

– Ayush Shetty loses to Christo Popov 11-21 9-21

– Kidambi Srikanth loses to Alex Lanier 16-21 18-21

– HS Prannoy loses to Toma Junior Popov 19-21 16-21

France had never advanced past the quarter-finals of the Thomas Cup in the past. And now they find themselves in the final, where they are likely to face China – who are 2-0 up against hosts Denmark at the moment.

Tough luck for India, who came close to reaching the final for the second time in three editions. But without Lakshya Sen, their No 1 player, it was always going to be a tough ask for them.

FRANCE ARE THROUGH TO THE THOMAS CUP FINAL FOR THE FIRST TIME! Toma Junior Popov lets out a triumphant scream and runs around the court in joy, and is joined by his teammates within seconds after Prannoy’s overhead smash lands just outside the line.

With that, India’s campaign at the 2026 Thomas and Uber Cup in Horsens, Denmark finally comes to an end!

Toma Junior Popov has five match points in hand after HS Prannoy hits the net. India’s hopes of reaching the final are almost over!

Prannoy successfully overturns the on-court call and retains his review after a long shot from Popov that lands beyond the back line is initially awarded in the Frenchman’s favour. Prannoy, however, hits the net next up to hand help his opponent inch closer to victory.

Popov collects a hat-trick of points to open up a five-point lead, and this time has the finish line in sight! Can Prannoy pull a rabbit out of the hat from here?

Prannoy ensures Popov isn’t running away with the contest in the second half of Game 2, and is within touching distance of his opponent. The veteran Indian shuttler collects his 10th point with a long shot that lands on the back line. That is followed by a smash to Popov’s left that the Frenchman isn’t able to return.

Prannoy wins the first point after the break, with Popov unable to produce a low return after diving halfway across the court to his right. Prannoy however, attempts a drop shot at the net next up, only to watch the shuttle roll back and land on his side of the court.

It’s a five-point lead in favour of Popov at the halfway stage of Game 2, and one would be inclined to believe that it’s the Frenchman’s game to lose from here. it’s all or nothing for Prannoy and the Indian contingent in the second half of the game now.

Popov moves into a three-point lead in Game 2, with the momentum appearing to swing in his favour now. The narrow win in Game 1 appears to have infused a fresh dose of confidence into the 27-year-old, who will be hoping to collect a straight-games victory like his younger brother and Lanier before him.

Popov doesn’t take long to level the scores, going 3-3 with a jump smash down Prannoy’s left. The score then goes from 3-3 to 4-4, with the Frenchman once again making good use of the smash.

Three consecutive points now for Prannoy after conceding the opening point to Popov. The veteran Indian shuttler finds himself in the early lead once again.

Popov wins the opening point in Game 2 against Prannoy, before the Indian levels the scores with a jump smash.

Toma Junior Popov pulls off a thrilling victory in Game 1! France are on the verge of clinching their semi-final showdown against India!

Prannoy had been narrowly ahead for the most part in Game 1, but Popov surges ahead in the last moment to pull off a narrow win!

Neither Prannoy nor Popov are able to surge ahead at the moment, so fiercely fought is the opening game of their singles tie. Who will come out on top in the end? Stay tuned to find out.

Prannoy concedes a easy point to Popov with a service error, allowing the Frenchman to level the scores at 15-all.

Popov lets out a fierce cry after leveling the scores at 14-all! He certainly appears pumped up at the moment. Looks like this game is going to go down the wire!

Popov levels the scores immediately after the break but Prannoy ensures he remains in the lead by winning three of the next four points, the latest one coming off a jump smash down the court.

HS Prannoy is in the lead at the halfway stage! What a welcome change for the Indian camp, who have had little going their way so far in their semi-final showdown against France! Can Prannoy hold on to the lead and go 1-0 up against Toma?

A fierce rally between Popov and Prannoy ends with the Indian lobbing the shuttle across the court, ensuring it lands just inside the line. Popov, however, wins the next two points with back-to-back smashes to level the scores.

The gap is now down to just one point after Popov collects four of them in a row, primarily thanks to some smart net play.

Prannoy opens up a four-point lead early in Game 1 with a backhand smash. Briefly hands the service back to his opponent after his shot lands beyond the back line, but is able to restore the lead with another powerful shot next up.

HS Prannoy begins the third singles tie on a confident note by racing into a 3-0 lead in quick time. These two have met only once before – at the All England Championships last year, which Popov had won.

The hopes of a billion Indians now rest on the shoulders of Prannoy, who will have to win this game to keep India’s hopes of reaching the final alive.

France are 2-0 up against India at the moment and will clinch the semi-final if the elder of the Popov siblings wins the upcoming match against Prannoy, who is as experienced as Srikanth.

Srikanth goes down fighting against Lanier as France go 2-0 up against India in their Thomas Cup semi-final showdown in Horsens! A much closer fight between these two compared to what we witnessed in Christo Popov vs Alex Lanier, but it’s a Frenchman who prevails in the end!

Srikanth is now within one point of Lanier, and both players have the finish line in sight, after Lanier’s attempt at a drop shot hits the net. Can Srikanth finally deliver a breakthrough for the Indians?

Srikanth pumps his fist in delight after hitting a cross-court smash to Lanier’s left, reducing the gap to three points. Make that two, with Lanier’s next shot landing wide of the service line.

As was the case in the previous game, Lanier widens the gap right after the break after a tense first half, and is currently leading by five points. It’s now or never for Srikanth if he is to help India level the scores against France.