European champions France stunned the badminton fraternity by qualifying for the semi-finals of the Thomas Cup for the first time ever.
Also for the first time ever, two European nations have qualified for the semi-finals with hosts Denmark also qualifying.
Denmark defeated Thailand 3–1, while France delivered an even more dominant performance, winning 3–0 against Japan.
Denmark will face the reigning champions China, while France will take on the 2022 champions India in the semi-finals.
The French victory, while not totally unexpected, has still shaken up the badminton hierarchy. Having beaten 14-time-champions Indonesia earlier in the week, the French firepower in the singles led by brothers Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov was firing in all cylinders.
Toma Junior who secured their first-ever Thomas Cup medal said:
“I think it is just incredible. We are a bunch of young guys having fun. I think now we put a stamp on the map that France is really existing. Our name is France and we are here—and I think in the future we are going to do some great things. I am pretty sure about that.”
Christo, the world No 4 and reigning BWF Super Series Finals champion, started the ball rolling for France with a 67-minute 21-17, 21-217 win over Kodai Naraoka.
After having lost the first three career encounters against the Japanese world number nine, the 24-year-old Christo has now won their latest three meetings, including in the semi-finals of the BWF Super Series Finals semi-finals an the Japan Open quarter-finals last year.
Twenty-one-year-old reigning European champion Lanier, kept up to his superior ranking to put the French 2-0 up.
The world number 10 picked up his first ever win over Yushi Tanaka, ranked 19, in four meetings. In what was their only their first meeting in 16-months, Lanier took 46-minutes to subdue Tanaka 21-15, 21-17.
Toma Junior, the elder of the Popov brothers at 27, clinched the winning point for France when he overcame a late resistance from Koki Watanabe 21–19, 23–21 in a match that lasted 64-minutes. It was his first win over the Japanese in three meetings.
While the French will relish their chances against India, who had stunned Chinese Taipei, in the quarter-finals, Denmark will find the going tough against the mighty Chinese.
The Danes, dropped the second singles when Magnus Johannesen lost to Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul 17-21, 12-21.
But the stunning 21–16, 11–21, 21–18 defeat of former world champion and current world number two Kunlavut Vitidsarn paved the way for A Danish triumph.
Denmalrk won both the doubles ties with Mathias Christiansen-Daniel Lundgaard clinching the winning point.
Mathias Christiansen said: “We are really happy and proud to deliver a result like this, and also on home soil.”
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
THOMAS CUP
Denmark beat Thailand 3-1 (Anders Antonsen bt Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21–16, 11–21, 21–18; Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen bt Dechapol Puavaranukroh 16–21, 21–5, 21–17; Magnus Johannesen lost to Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul 17-21, 12-21; Mathias Christiansen- Daniel Lundgaard bt Chaloempon Charoenkitamorn-Worrapol Thongsa-nga 21-13, 21-17)
France beat Japan 3-1 (Christo Popov bt Kodai Naraoka 21–17, 21–17; Alex Lanier bt Yushi Tanaka 21–15, 21–17; Toma Junior Popov bt Koki Watanabe 21–19, 23–21)
