Ayush Shetty
Former champions India are back in the semi-finals of the Thomas Cup after missing out on a berth two years ago. The 2022 champions defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0 in a tie that held everyone at the edge of their seats in Horsens, Denmark.
India will take on the winners of the match between darkhorses Japan and surprise package, France, the reigning European champions, the semi-finals.
China, who defeated Malaysia 3-0 in the another quarter-final tie will play the winners of the clash between Thailand and Denmark.
India’s win over the favoured Taiwanese team did not come easy despite the flattering scoreline.
Lakshya Sen came back from a game down to upset Taiwanese veteran Chou Tien Chen, the world number six, 18-21, 22-20, 21-17 in a grueling 88-minute encounter.
It was the Indian world number 11’s third successive win over Tien Chen in the international arena.
The opening win put India at the pedestal; with the Indian world number Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shettty looking to keep their unbeaten track record against 14th ranked Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi-Lin.
But a fired up Hsiang Chieh-Chi-lin had other ideas. They took the game to the Indians, troubling for much of the first two games. But Hsiang Chieh-Chi-Lin ran out steam in the decider, losing 21-23, 21-19, 12-21 after an intriguing and energy sapping 75-minute clash.
Ironically both the first two Indian points came from players, who helped India bag their only Thomas Cup triumph in 2022.
Ayush Shetty continued to be the trumpcard in the Indian side as he overcame a gritty Lin Chun Yi 21-16, 21-17 to clinch the winning point for the jubilant Indians.
The world number 18 was not the favoured player, having lost to Chun Yi in their only previous meeting at the Orleans Masters last year.
But the world number 18, overcome early jitters to turn the tables on his opponent ranked ten rungs above with a polished all-round attacking game. He pushed Chun Yi all the way to come off a worthy winner and deliver India a place in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, defending champions China stamped their class in their quick defeat of Malaysia, who were quietly hoping of an improbable upset.
In the first singles, any hopes of a Malaysian upset disappeared in the third game when Jun Hao trailed 0-11 before picking up his first point off his rival, Shi Yuqi’s mistake.
Earlier, Yuqi had taken the first game easily but surrendered the second that forced the decider. In the end Yuqi, the world number one, asserted his superiority easing off to a 21-10, 16-21, 21-9 win in 67-minutes.
Malaysia opted to field their world number two ranked pair of Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik against Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang, the Chinese pair ranked three rungs below them.
Two years ago at the Thomas Cup semi-final stages, Aaron-Wooi Yik had defeated their rivals and they were hoping to repeat the feat. But Wei Keng-Chang, who hold a 9-3 winning record over the Malaysian duo, have a knack of turning the tables in major tournaments including at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the BWF World Tour Finals last year.
And they did exactly that, defeating the shell-shocked Malaysian pair 24-22, 21-14 in a match that lasted 35-minutes.
Aaron-Wooi Yik should have clinched the opening but, but squandered two match points to allow their rivals take the upperhand and take the morale boosting opening game. The Chinese dup never looked threatened by the Aaron-Wooi Yik as they controlled the game to put China within grasp of yet another semi-final berth.
And world number seven Li Shifeng delivered the winning point as expected with a 21-14, 21-13 win in the second singles.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
China beat Malaysia 3-0 (Shi Yuqi bt Leong Junhao 21-10, 16-21, 21-9; Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang bt Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik 24-22, 21-14l Li Shifeng bt Justin Hoh 21-14)
India beat Chinese Taipei 3-0 (Lakshya Sen br Chou Tien Chen 18-21, 22-20, 21-17; Satiwksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty bt Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi-Lin 23-21, 19-21, 21-12; Ayush Shetty bt Lin Chun-yi 21-16, 21-17)
