3 min readApr 29, 2026 11:14 AM IST
With Shi Yuqi not having recovered from his acute gastroenteritis, Li Shifeng steps in his place as first singles against Lakshya Sen for the key Thomas Cup group tie to decide who finishes first or second. The tie starts 1.30 pm IST.
It’s an interesting point in time for Li Shifeng. Not in the best of forms, he does have scores to settle against Sen, leading 8-7 in head to head overall, but having lost to the Indian at All England in 2026. Shifeng won all their faceoffs in 2025, but hasn’t been in best form this season.
Stepping up to MS1 first singles, is a challenge, but Shifeng has always been a big occasion player. Sen lost to Victor Lai, but he is known to reserve his best for the big matches too. In 2023, he defeated Shi Yuqi in Asian Games Teams.
It puts Ayush Shetty in unchartered territory, against China’s foxiest Weng Hong Yang, always a tricky customer in second singles. Their rankings are 3 ranks apart – Weng, 15, and Ayush, 18.
Satwik-Chirag will once again need to tackle Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang and their spinny serves and fast smashes from Liang. Indians defeated the Chinese at World Championships, but had lost at the World Tour Finals. Expect three sets, though Chinese social media has speculated over Wang’s iffy back. The Chinese, based on their serve and return, lead the H2H 8-4.
India’s second doubles, MR Arjun-Hariharan Amsakarunan will face the biggest test against He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu, perhaps India’s toughest matchup in the tie. The reuniting Chinese, an ostensible “scratch pairs” are ranked No 99, but have played 105 matches as against 37 by Indians.
If it comes down to 2-2 in the tie, India have placed their faith in HS Prannoy for the fifth rubber and third singles. He trails the fastish mover Lu Guang Zu 2-4, but has experience in handling the decisive match situations. Lu is ranked No 23 while Prannoy is 35. The Indian did defeat him in their latest match in 2025 autumn at Hong Kong Open in straight sets and they are 2-2 since 2024.
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India has never beaten China at Thomas Cup, which is not so much a mystery given the rankings, as a missing link of Indian badminton. Jog through the last 20 years, and while India’s top names in singles, doubles, have routinely beaten their Chinese opponents for individual Tour titles, or World Championship medals, and even in Round 1 exits, the team events have seen India come undone.
The result will decide who tops Group A, and gets a relatively easier / second placed opponent in the Quarterfinals. India are champions from 2022, while China has won the title 11 times.
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