Lakshya Sen to Miss Thomas Cup Semifinal Due to Injury

Injury Forces Lakshya Sen to Withdraw from Semifinal

India faces a significant setback as Lakshya Sen, the top-ranked men's badminton player, will not compete in the Thomas Cup 2026 semifinal against France due to an elbow injury. This was confirmed by Sanjay Mishra, the General Secretary of the Badminton Association of India (BAI).

Mishra explained that Sen sustained the injury during the quarterfinal match and the decision to withdraw was made to ensure he has enough time to recover. There is hope that he will be fit to play in the final if India progresses further. Currently, Sen is under medical supervision, and the team is hopeful for his swift recovery.

BAI Issues Statement on Sen's Condition

In a statement, BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra announced, "Lakshya Sen will not be participating in today's semifinal against France in the BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2026. He suffered an elbow impact during a demanding quarterfinal match that required multiple dives."

Mishra continued, "After a comprehensive assessment by the medical team, we decided it was best for Lakshya to rest and recover fully to ensure he is in peak condition for the final, should India advance. He is receiving all necessary medical support and is being closely monitored. We remain optimistic about his quick return to form."

Highlights from the Quarterfinal Match

In the quarterfinals, Sen achieved a remarkable victory over the higher-ranked Chou Tien Chen, winning with scores of 18-21, 22-20, and 21-17 after a grueling match lasting one hour and 28 minutes.

The encounter was thrilling, with both players overcoming significant deficits in the initial games. Chou rallied from 10-15 down in the first game, while Sen managed to save two match points after trailing 14-17 in the second. Ultimately, Sen's aggressive play in the deciding game secured India's first point.

India's Lineup for the Semifinal

In the absence of Sen, the Indian team will feature Ayush Shetty, Kidambi Srikant, and HS Prannoy in the men's singles matches.

For the doubles events, the pairs of Satwik Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty and M. Arjun/A. Hariharan will represent India.