The stakes couldn’t be higher as India takes on France in a historic semi-final clash at the Thomas Cup 2026 in Horsens, Denmark. With both teams coming off dominant 3-0 quarter-final victories India over Chinese Taipei and France over Japan this tie promises high-octane badminton action.
Match Schedule & Where to Watch
The tie is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026, starting at 6:00 PM local time (9:30 PM IST).
• Live Streaming (India): Fans can catch the action live on the Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the BWF YouTube channel.
• TV Telecast: In India, Sports18 and DD Sports are expected to broadcast the matches live.
India vs. France: Full Line-up & Live Score Updates
A major blow for India is the absence of Lakshya Sen, who has been ruled out of the semi-final due to an elbow injury sustained during the quarter-finals. Ayush Shetty steps up to lead the singles charge.
• MS 1 – A. Shetty (IND) vs. C. Popov (FRA) at 6:00 PM
• MS 2 – Kidambi S. (IND) vs. A. Lanier (FRA) at 6:50 PM
• MS 3 – Prannoy H. S. (IND) vs. T. Popov (FRA) at 7:40 PM
• MD 1– H. Amsakarunan / M. Arjun (IND) vs. E. Adam / L. Rossi (FRA) at 8:30 PM
• MD 2 – S. Rankireddy / C. Shetty (IND) vs. C. Popov / T. Popov (FRA) at 9:20 PM
(Note: Match timings are subject to change based on the duration of preceding games.)
Score Prediction
France is riding a wave of momentum after their “Bleu Brilliance” performance against Japan. However, India’s depth, even without Sen, remains formidable.
• Key Battle: The third singles between veteran H.S. Prannoy and Toma Junior Popov could be the decider.
• Doubles Advantage: World No. 1 pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are heavy favorites in the final rubber if the tie goes the distance.
Prediction: India to edge past France 3-2 in a nail-biting thriller to reach the final.