AARHUS
The French badminton team achieved a monumental milestone, storming into the Thomas Cup semifinals for the first time in history. By sweeping world powerhouse Japan with a 3-0 victory, France has guaranteed itself a maiden medal in the prestigious tournament. They are now set for a high-stakes showdown against India in the final four.
France’s historic night was built on the backs of their incredible singles players. Christo Popov started the momentum with a grueling win over Japan’s Kodai Naraoka, showing immense endurance in a physical battle. Alex Lanier followed with a composed performance to put France on the brink of victory. The historic moment was finally sealed when Toma Junior Popov held his nerve in a nail-biting finish to defeat Koki Watanabe.
“I wanted to cry, but I am too happy,” Toma Junior said after the match. He noted that after beating Indonesia earlier in the week, this win serves as a loud warning to the badminton world that France is ready to fight for the top.
Standing in their way is India, the 2022 champions, who advanced with their own dominant 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei. India’s victory was powered by stars Lakshya Sen and the world-class doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. Meanwhile, hosts Denmark also progressed to the semis, ensuring a rare double-European presence in the final rounds. As the competition heats up, France’s dream run remains the talk of the tournament.