India vs China at Thomas Cup: Can Lakshya, Satwik-Chirag finally end the jinx? | Badminton News

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The record is stark. India lost 0-5 in 2006, 0-5 in 2018, 1-4 in 2020 and 1-3 in the quarterfinals in 2024. At the 2024 Asian Team Championship, India lost 2-3 to China — the same margin as the Asian Games gold medal match in 2023. Each time, Chinese depth across three singles and both doubles drowned them. But within those defeats, the margins have been telling.

In 2006, Chetan Anand took a set off Lin Dan — 8-21, 23-21, 11-21. In 2018, Sai Praneeth and a young Lakshya Sen, playing third singles, stretched Shi Yuqi and Lin Dan respectively to three sets before going down. Both would win World Championship bronzes in subsequent seasons. In 2020, Satwik-Chirag pulled one back with a 21-14, 21-14 win — a rare Thomas Cup point against China — but Kiran George, Dhruv-Arjun, Srikanth and Sameer Verma all fell. At the last edition, Lakshya Sen beat Li Shifeng in the quarterfinals in three sets. He had also beaten Shi Yuqi at the Asian Games teams event playing first singles. The net score remains 0-4 in ties. But something is shifting.

The core that narrowly lost 2-3 to China in the 2023 Asian Games gold medal match lines up again on Wednesday — bolstered now by Ayush Shetty, a formidable addition in form. Beyond the tie itself, India could do with topping the group and securing a relatively easier opponent in the quarterfinals.

For India to win, the formula is clear. “If India start well, like 2-0, then China can come under pressure and anything can happen. These events work on momentum,” Kashyap says. The onus falls on Lakshya Sen at first singles, Satwik-Chirag at first doubles and Ayush Shetty — India’s big guns — to fire first against China’s heavy artillery. Third singles could be decisive: Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy or Kiran George?

“Shi Yuqi is world No 1 by a distance. Li Shifeng is higher ranked, a known big occasion player, but struggling. Ayush is in tremendous form, but again, it’s Shifeng who starts favourite,” Kashyap says. “Satwik-Chirag’s is a 50-50 match, but our guys have had good rest and must be raring to go.”

The target is 3-0 — like the 2022 Thomas Cup win, India’s finest hour — before China’s depth takes over in the lower rungs.

But there is a harder conversation beneath all of this, and Kashyap doesn’t shy from it.

“Let’s be honest, things came together in 2022, everyone hit form, and we had that incredible title win. But a Thomas Cup is not exactly the most sought-after title by Indians. We haven’t celebrated our win as much as we ought to have. It needed to be blown out of proportion — it was that big. We didn’t,” he says.

He knows what it means to China, by contrast. “I have seen preparations and approach of Denmark, Malaysia, Indonesia — who devote two months at least to getting ready for it. It’s a massive thing for China. Their contracts, bonuses depend on it. It’s why their players play under such huge pressure, but also are prepared accordingly.”

India’s team is stronger now than it has ever been. The 2014 version had top-10 singles but was nowhere in doubles. This one has genuine weapons across all five rubbers.

“China will be a huge confidence booster,” Kashyap says. “But remember — it’s China. They hate to lose to anyone.”