India vs Chinese Taipei Highlights, Thomas Cup 2026 badminton: Ayush Shetty beats Lin Chun-Yi, India storm to semis

India march into the semifinals of the Thomas Cup in style—what a commanding 3-0 sweep over Chinese Taipei! This has been a statement performance, clinical and ruthless from start to finish.

Take a bow, Ayush Shetty! He seals the tie with a superb straight-games win over Lin Chun-Yi, 21-16, 21-17—composed, confident, and in complete control when it mattered most. With two matches still in hand, India shut the door emphatically.

Now, all eyes turn to the semifinals, where India will face the winner of France vs Japan.

Ayush Shetty is inching closer and closer to sealing this—calm, composed, and in complete control of the situation! He’s dictating the rallies, picking his moments, and not allowing Chun-Yi any real foothold.

The big question now—does Chun-Yi have one last push left in him? It’s not over till it’s over, but against an in-form Ayush who’s reading the game so well, the mountain is getting steeper with every point.

Ayush 15-11 Chun-Yi 

Ayush Shetty has his nose in front at 11-8 and looks firmly in control at the mid-game interval! He’s dictating the pace, staying composed, and building pressure point by point.

But if the first game taught us anything, it’s that momentum can flip in an instant. Ayush staged a brilliant comeback after the break earlier—now the question is, can Chun-Yi respond in kind? The next few rallies could be decisive in shaping this game and possibly the tie itself!

Score: Ayush 11-8 Chun-Yi  

It’s neck and neck at 7-7—this second game has turned into a real battle! Ayush Shetty has been impressive, matching Chun-Yi shot for shot, with neither willing to give an inch. The rallies are tight, the margins razor-thin, and the tension is building with every point.

Ayush will know what’s at stake here—just a few steady moments, a bit of composure under pressure, and he could carry India straight into the semifinals. This is where nerves and belief will make all the difference!

Score: Ayush 7-7 Chun-Yi

Ayush Shetty picking up right where he left off—3-2 up and looking confident! That brilliant comeback in the first game has clearly lifted him, and he’s carrying that momentum into the second.

The body language is positive, the shots are flowing, and he’s keeping Chun-Yi under pressure early on. Now it’s about building on this start and not letting the intensity drop!

Score: Ayush 3-2 Chun-Yi

What a turnaround from Ayush Shetty—he takes the opening game 21-14 in just 21 minutes! From 7-11 down at the break to complete control thereafter, that was a sensational shift in momentum.

Once he found his rhythm, the tempo, precision, and confidence all clicked—Chun-Yi simply had no answers.

But the job’s only half done. Chun-Yi will come back hard in the second, desperate to level things up and keep Chinese Taipei in the tie.

This is turning into something special from Ayush Shetty! Trailing 7-11 at the break, he’s flipped the script with a stunning comeback—tightening the rallies, upping the intensity, and keeping Chun-Yi firmly on the back foot.

But this battle is far from over. Ayush knows he can’t ease up even for a moment—Chun-Yi has the quality to strike back in a flash. It’s a test of nerve now… can Shetty keep his foot on the pedal and finish what he’s started?

Score: Ayush 16-12 Chun-Yi

Ayush Shetty is clawing his way right back into this contest—what a turnaround! He’s drawn level, and for the first time today, Chun-Yi is feeling the heat. The momentum has shifted, the rallies are getting tighter, and suddenly, it’s the Indian who’s dictating terms.

This is the moment Ayush was waiting for—can he stay composed, hold his nerve, and ride this surge to snatch the opening game? The pressure has flipped completely!

Score: Ayush 12-12 Chun-Yi

Score: Ayush 7-11 Chun-Yi

Score: Ayush 2-5 Chun-Yi

All eyes now shift to Ayush Shetty—this is a big moment! He’s up against Lin Chun-Yi, the very opponent who got the better of him at the Orleans Masters last year with a straight-games win, 21-13, 21-15. But this is a fresh stage, a bigger occasion, and a golden opportunity for redemption.

Ayush has the chance not just to settle the score at 1-1, but to deliver the knockout blow for India. One win here, and it’s curtains on the contest—India through to the semifinals! The pressure is high, but so is the reward. Can Ayush rise to the occasion and finish it off?

What a statement finish from Sat-Chi—pure dominance when it mattered most! They wrap it up in style, handing India a commanding 2-0 lead in the quarterfinal tie after an hour and 25 minutes of high-quality badminton. A hard-fought battle overall, but that final game was a masterclass—23-21, 19-21, 21-12 tells the story.

With this win, India are now just one victory away from sealing a spot in the semifinals. The momentum is firmly with them!

Score: Sat-Chi beats Chiu-Wang 23-21, 19-21, 21-12

Sat-Chi can almost taste victory now—they’ve opened up a massive gap and are miles ahead on the scoreboard! Chiu-Wang look completely rattled, searching for answers that just aren’t coming.

After that slight dip in the second game, Satwik and Chirag have rediscovered their rhythm at the perfect moment—this is dominant, confident, and right on the brink of sealing the deal!

Score: Sat-Chi 16-8 Chiu-Wang  

Score: Sat-Chi 11-5 Chiu-Wang

Sat-Chi are holding firm and tightening the screws with every rally! They’ve guarded that early lead brilliantly, forcing Chiu-Wang onto the back foot and making every point a grind. The Chinese Taipei pair just haven’t been able to recover from that early setback, and right now, Satwik and Chirag have a clear stranglehold on this decider!

Score: Sat-Chi 9-4 Chiu-Wang

Satwik and Chirag are off to a flying start in the decider—racing to a commanding 3-0 lead with pure authority! The pressure is mounting on Chiu-Wang, who look rattled early on, struggling to find rhythm as the Indian duo dictate the tempo right from the word go.

Score: Sat-Chi 3-0 Chiu-Wang

So for the second match running, we move into another decider. The Indian duo lost momentum in the end as they allowed Chiu and Wang to make a comeback and push it to one more game. This has been an evenly-poised contest with no one having a clear advantage. 

Score: Sat-Chi 19-21 Chiu-Wang

They have been able to end the momentum from the Chinese Taipei duo and have now taken the lead and are edging closer to the win. And just as we say it, Chiu-Wang level it up. 

Score: Sat-Chi 19-19 Chiu-Wang

Sat-Chi looked to be in control of things right after the break but the Chinese Taipei duo are on a three-point winning streak and have slowly wrestled the momentum away. Can Sat-Chi bounce back?

Score: Sat-Chi 14-15 Chiu-Wang

There is genuinely nothing to separate both teams in the second game. No one has had the clear advantage but it is Sat-Chi who take the lead heading into the break. They have been quick to bounce back after losing points but will be mindful of ensuring they don't have service faults anymore. 

Score: Sat-Chi 11-10 Chiu-Wang

Well, both these teams have started from where they left off, with the service being exchanged quickly. The Chinese Taipei pair hold a slender lead and that lasts for a couple of minutes before Sat-Chi level it up. 

Score: Sat-Chi 3-3 Chiu-Wang

The momentum has been shifting faster than a pendulum here, and it is the Indian pair who capitalise on it the most. Saving two game points, they take the lead to make it 21-20, before Chiu and Wang level it up. Then the Indian duo take the lead once again and see it off to take the first game. 

Score: Sat-Chi 23-21 Chiu-Wang

The common theme so far has been the resilience shown by the Indian contingent. Started with Lakshya Sen and now Sat-Chi is continuing it. They had conceded a five-point lead but have cut the deficit down to one, despite conceding a game point. Can they push it more and secure the first game?

Score: Sat-Chi 19-20 Chiu-Wang

This isn't something that Satwik-Chirag will be happy about they. Have made another service fault to give the momentum back to their Chinese Taipei counterparts. They need to make some changes quickly to the game plan to get back into match and level things up. 

Score: Sat-Chi 14-16 Chiu-Wang

Not the start that Satwik-Chirag was looking for. They trail at the halfway mark by three points with the Chinese Taipei duo being more proactive in the middle and getting the momentum. 

Score: Sat-Chi 8-11 Chiu-Wang

A few errors here from the Indian pair and Chiu and Wang have wrestled the lead here before a small break in play. Can they regroup and bounce back to level things up?

The Indian pair has taken a quick lead here. Chiu and Wang are constantly fighting back and not allowing the former World No.1 pair to runaway with this one. Now they have taken lead in the contest for the moment before Sat-Chi make it 4-4. 

Score: Sat-Chi 4-4 Chiu-Wang

Lakshya Sen does it! It was a sensational comeback from the Indian ace who looked dead and buried at one point, before he saved three match points to push the match into a decider. In the third set, he outsmarted Chen every step of the way and quickly raced to securing the win. 

The Chinese Taipei star was able to mount a brief comeback in the end, but it wasn't enough and India have the lead. 

Score: Lakshya beats Chen 18-21, 22-20, 21-17

This is just sensational from the Indian ace, who continues to grind and wear down Chen with a variety of shots. The game is heading in India's favour and the turnaround is almost complete. 

Score: Lakshya 16-11 Chen

Lakshya Sen has realised that he has this game right where he wants it to be. Chen is showing signs of fatigue and is being made to run around a lot more. Lakshya seems to be more decisive with his shot-making and using the drop more effectively. He takes the lead at the halfway mark in the decider. 

Score: Lakshya 11-7 Chen

Certainly nothing to separate between the two at the moment here with Chen and Lakshya all square in the decider. Lakshya seems to be mixing things up a bit, making Chen move all over the court with long rallies. The drop shot is also finding the desired effect from the Indian ace at the moment. 

Score: Lakshya 6-6 Chen

Just when you thought he was all but done, Lakshya finds that extra bit of momentum. That extra spark and he wins four straight points to take the second game and push the match into the decider. He is having some words with the coach before the match restarts. 

The first one was a sensational save and then a long one that Chen just let go. The match has swung back in Lakshya's favour and he takes the lead with another smash. 

Simply sensational from Lakshya here. From trailing by 5 points, he has kept himself alive in the match with a sensational run that has stunned Chen. Can push the match into the decider?

There was a brief moment where we expected a comeback from Lakhsya. But that has been put out by Chen. But errors are coming into the Chinese Taipei star's game, but he still maintains the heat on Lakhsya. 

The errors continue to haunt Lakshya in the match and he has allowed Chen take a 11-5 lead heading into the break in game 2. He needs a quick comeback after the break to regain some momentum. And he regains the serve here to start proceedings.

Score: Lakhsya 6-12 Chen

The Chinese Taipei star is running away with the game at the moment. Lakshya seems to have lost his focus here and Chen is capitalising on every single error being made by the Indian ace. He is able to finally win the serve back, but can he maintain the momentum? Well, no. Chen regains the serve with another offensive masterclass. 

Score: Lakshya 2-6 Chen

All the momentum was with Chen and he gives a fist bump as he secures the advantage heading into Game 2. His net game has been way ahead of Lakshya, who looks deflated at the moment and wondering how he let the lead slip here. A quick regroup is needed and he needs to a big effort to stay in the match. 

Score: Lakshya 0-0 Chen (18-21)

The lead was 15-10 and then errors have come to hurt Lakshya against Chen. After a sensational start after the break, the Indian ace seems to be falling apart and has handed the lead back to Chen and he is edging closer to securing the game. 

Score: Lakshya 18-20 Chen

So Lakshya Sen has taken an 11-9 lead in the first game. It has been a back and forth battle with the Indian ace having an answer to Chen's offense and showing some incredible shots of his own. Alertness from Lakshya has been impressive and he will be aiming to extend the lead after the break. 

Lakshya Sen made it 2-2 and then slowly capitalised on his serve to make it 4-2 in the contest. A small fist bump from the Indian ace but it is early days in the contest. Just as we say it, Chen plays an incredible shot to reduce the deficit by one point. 

Score: Lakshya 4-3 Chen

Two incredible rallies from both men to start the match. Chen started with the serve and won the first point of the contest and then Lakshya bounces back to make it 1-1. If this is the level competition we will be getting today, we maybe in for a thrilling day. 

Score: Lakshya 1-1 Chen

Lakshya Sen will begin the charge for India in the quarterfinals. He comes to the court amid some fanfare here in Horsens. But Chou Tien Chen looks unfazed and focused. Can Lakshya give India the perfect start. Game 1 is all set to begin. 

India's opposition today, Chinese Taipei, opened their Thomas Cup campaign in a strong fashion with a 5-0 win over Sweden, before suffering a narrow 3-2 defeat against South Korea in their second outing. They bounced back in their final group match, edging past Denmark 3-2 to secure their position in the group standings.

On the other hand, India, the reigning Thomas Cup (2022) champions, began their group stage with convincing performances, defeating Canada 4-1 and sweeping past Australia 5-0. However, they faced a setback in their final group match, going down 3-2 to China in a closely contested encounter.

India will once again lean heavily on their star doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who bring a strong 2–0 head-to-head advantage into this tie. The pair have been India’s most reliable combination and will be expected to deliver in a high-pressure knockout clash.

There is also growing confidence around the second doubles pairing. Arjun and Amsakarunan impressed with their performance against China earlier in the week, and that result could give India a crucial edge in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested quarter-final.

Lakshya Sen has avoided a tricky matchup against Lin Chun-yi, the India Open and All England champion—a significant boost for India given Lakshya’s struggles against him. The Indian shuttler is yet to beat Lin in five meetings, including two painful final defeats earlier this year.

Instead, Lakshya is set to face Chou Tien Chen, one of the most experienced players on the circuit. While the challenge remains tough, there is reason for optimism. Lakshya has won their last two encounters, including a convincing victory in the semi-final of the Australian Open last year.

Both players, however, come into this contest looking to bounce back. Lakshya suffered a loss to China’s Li Shi Feng, while Chou was beaten by Denmark’s Anders Antonsen in his previous outing.

With momentum slightly dented on both sides, this clash could prove to be a pivotal moment in the tie.

• First singles: Lakshya Sen (11) vs Chou Tien Chen (6)
• First doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (4) vs Chiu Hsiang Chieh/Wang Chi-lin (14)
• Second singles: Ayush Shetty (18) vs Lin Chun-yi (8)
• Second doubles: MR Arjun/Hariharan Amsakarunan (34) vs Liu Kuang Heng/Yang Po-hsuan
• Third singles: Kidambi Srikanth (30) vs Chi Yu-jen (21)

It’s a big day in Horsens as the knockout stage of the Thomas Cup gets underway, with India set to take on Chinese Taipei in a high-stakes quarter-final clash on Friday, May 1.

The Lakshya Sen-led Indian team will be aiming to push beyond the last-eight stage for the first time since their historic title-winning run in 2022. Standing in their way, however, is a resilient Chinese Taipei side that has already shown its ability to fight back under pressure.

India come into the tie with solid momentum, having secured a 4–1 win over Canada and a dominant 5–0 victory against Australia in the group stage. Their only setback came in a closely fought 2–3 loss to defending champions China.

Chinese Taipei, led by Chou Tien Chen, also had an eventful group stage. Despite a loss to Korea, they topped their group, which included Denmark and Sweden. In one of the standout matches of the tournament so far, they pulled off a stunning comeback against Denmark—winning 3–2 after dropping the first two singles matches.

With traditional powerhouses Korea and Indonesia already knocked out in the group stage, the Thomas Cup in Horsens has seen its fair share of surprises. Both India and Chinese Taipei will now look to seize the moment and move one step closer to the title.