New Delhi: India delivered a commanding performance to secure a place in the Thomas Cup Finals quarterfinals, defeating Australia 5-0 in a Group A clash in Horsens. With this emphatic victory, India joined China at the top of the group standings, setting up a decisive encounter to determine the group leader.
The Indian team, champions in 2022, carried forward their strong form after an earlier 4-1 win over Canada. Their dominance against Australia ensured a flawless outing, with every match won in straight games.
Lakshya Sen set the tone with a confident 21-14, 21-16 victory over Ephraim Stephen Sam, giving India an early lead. Building on that momentum, Ayush Shetty delivered a commanding performance, defeating Shrey Dhand 21-8, 21-6 to double the advantage.
India’s top doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, sealed the tie with a solid 21-14, 21-16 win over Rizky Hidayat and Jack Yu, extending the lead to 3-0.
HS Prannoy continued the dominance with a swift 21-11, 21-17 victory against Rishi Honda Boopathy, finishing his match in under half an hour. The second doubles pair of Hariharan Amsakarunan and M.R. Arjun wrapped up the contest in style, defeating Andika Ramadiansyah and Ephraim Stephen Sam 21-12, 21-10.
India’s all-round display highlighted their depth and consistency, as they completed the tie without dropping a single match. With confidence high, the team now turns its focus to the upcoming clash against China, which will decide the top position in Group A.
