European champions France’s coming-of-age as a top team is complete. The ultimate validation came with a stunning takedown of pre-tournament favourites Indonesia, in which the French achieved the equation they needed. France stunned the Indonesians 4-1 in their top of the table group clash.
That they achieved it against the 14-time champions who arrived with formidable depth in singles and doubles made it all the more special. The 4-1win also saw France joining Thailand in the quarter-finals ahead of Indonesia.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | MF | MA | MD | GF | GA | GD | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Thailand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 23 | 12 | +11 | 658 | 532 | +126 | 2 | Advance to quarter-finals |
| 2 |  France | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 413 | 290 | +123 | 2 | |
| 3 |  Indonesia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 18 | 5 | +13 | 471 | 314 | +157 | 2 | |
| 4 |  Algeria | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | −15 | 0 | 30 | −30 | 224 | 630 | −406 | 0 |
“We are more than proud,” said Toma Junior Popov. “Leo and Eloi show that in this hall. They are capable of amazing things. They won the silver here at the European Championships in Horsens. Maybe that’s why the team put them for this men’s doubles. And I think we did the job, and we show it. Just congrats to them, and congrats to all the men singles.”
“If you told me 2, 3, 4, years ago, that we beat Indonesia, it’s kind of — who’s gonna win the matches, you know?” said his brother Christo.
“But yeah, I think today we just showed honestly what type what we are capable of as a team. I think we didn’t only win match by match, but we won as a team today. And those who were playing and not playing really hyped, and I think they gave us also a lot of energy, especially on crucial moments, like the end of first game for me and his (Toma’s) amazing match against Anthony Ginting. Let’s say it was a very big team match, and we are so proud and happy to win it together.”
Nothing went right for Indonesia from the start.
Jonatan Christie was unable to lift himself after a close first game against Christo Popov, fading out uncharacteristically in the second, losing 19-21, 14-21.
Alex Lanier hadn’t been himself in his opening match against Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul, but he buzzed with energy against Alwi Farhan. France had delivered the second blow with Lanier taking the match 21-16, 21-19 .
Anthony Sinisuka Ginting nearly put Indonesia back on track. Leading Toma Junior Popov in the third game, Ginting fell heavily and that that seemed to swing the momentum.
The proactive, explosive bursts suddenly went missing; a match point slipped his grasp. Popov had stuck his foot in the door and then yanked it open to win 20-22, 21-15, 22-20. The singles sweep saw France do the unthinkable.
But with Indonesia’s two doubles pairs in the top 10, the gulf in rankings was hard to ignore. Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani are No.9 to Eloi Adam-Leo Rossi’s No.52.
Yet the momentum from France’s three wins had built up a wave of energy, and Adam-Rossi rode high. A deflated Gutama-Isfahani cracked under the pressure; and what was once remote possibility turned into reality when Isfahani’s final serve landed short – an apt metaphor for the way things had gone for Indonesia.
A stunning 21-19, 21-19 win put France on the verge of a whitewash.
“Maybe it was the most important win for France. Very happy about today, like 4-0 against Indonesia, which is maybe the more iconic country in badminton. So it means a lot. And it’s a good year for the French team,” said Adam.
Christo-Toma Junior lost to Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Shohibul Fikri in thhe second doubles match 18-21, 21-19, 11-21. It was consolation for the Indonesians but was of least consequence for the jubilant French.
RESULTS
THOMAS CUP
GROUP D
France beat Indonesia 4-1 (Christo Popov bt Jonatan Christie 21-19, 21-14; Alex Lanier bt Alwi Farhan 21-16, 21-19; Toma Junior Popov bt Anthony Sinisuka Ginting 20-22, 21-15, 22-20; Eloi Adam-Leo Rossi bt Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 21-19, 21-19; Christo Popov-Toma Junior Popov lost to Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 18-21, 21-19, 11-21)
Thailand beat Algeria 5-0 ((Kunlavit Vitidsarn bt Adel Hamek 21-9, 21-4; Panitchaphon Teerratsakul bt Mohamed Abderrahime Belarbi 21-7, 21-7; Puritat Arree bt Mohamed Abdelaziz Ouchefoun 21-8, 21-7; Ruttanapak Oupthong-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul bt Adel Hamek-Koceila Mammeri 21-6, 21-11; Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Peeratchai Sukphun bt Mohamed Abderrahime Belarbi-Mohamed Abdelaziz Ouchefoun 21-4, 21-5)
UBER CUP
GROUP D
Korea beat Thailand 5-0 ((An Se-young bt Ratchanok Intanon 21-15, 21-12; Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee beat Hathaithip Mijad-Napapakorn Tungkasatan 21-11, 21-14; Kim Ga-eun bt Pornpawee Chochuwong 18-21, 21-16, 21-17; Jeong Na-eun-Kim Hye-jeong bt Benyapa Aimsaard-Supissara Paewsampran 21-11, 21-9; Sim Yu-jin bt Supanida Katethong 23-21, 21-12)
