Thomas Cup 2024: Defending champion India beat Thailand 4-1 in ...

Defending champions Indian men's badminton team defeated Thailand 4-1 in the Thomas Cup Group C opener on Saturday. HS Prannoy lost first match but Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Lakshya Sen, M R Arjun, Dhruv Kapila, and Kidambi Srikanth secured superb wins for India.

Defending champion India beat Thailand 4-1 in opener (AFP)

The Indian men's badminton team secured a resounding 4-1 victory over Thailand in the opening match of Group C in the Thomas Cup on Saturday in Chengdu, China. HS Prannoy lost the first match but Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Lakshya Sen, M R Arjun, Dhruv Kapila, and Kidambi Srikanth secured superb wins for India.

The opening match began with HS Prannoy facing off against Kunlavut Vitidsarn. Vitidsarn overcame Prannoy with scores of 20-22 and 14-21, giving Thailand an early lead. However, the dynamic Indian duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty quickly turned the tide, clinching a victory in their doubles match against Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul with scores of 21-19, 19-21, and 21-12.

India surged ahead 2-0 as Commonwealth Games gold medalist Lakshya Sen triumphed over Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul in a hard-fought battle, prevailing 21-12, 19-21, 21-16. The duo of M R Arjun and Dhruv Kapila then delivered a crucial win for India, defeating Tanadon Punpanich and Wachirawit Sothon in straight sets with a score of 21-19, 21-15. Lastly, Kidambi Srikanth sealed the deal for India with a commanding performance, breezing past Saran Jamsri 21-9, 21-5 in less than 30 minutes.