India scripted history in the Thomas Cup team tournament on Friday, reaching the first-ever final after a hard-fought 3-2 win over Denmark. India fought back from behind for the second successive tie as they stunned the Danish team, a day after outclassing Malaysia in the quarter-final.
The celebrations began as early as HS Prannoy won the last point against Rasmus Gemke in the deciding match of the semi-final tie at the Impact Arena in Thailand. Prannoy held his nerves and fought back from behind, beating the World No. 13-21, 21-9, 21-12 in a match that extended to an hour and 13 minutes.
His India teammates hastened on the court and hugged in joy as the young crop of shuttlers celebrated the historic moment in Bangkok. No Indian team had reached the final of Thomas and Uber Cup until Friday but the young side led by Kidambi Srikanth came up with a gutsy effort against favorites and former champions Denmark.
India had scripted history on Thursday by securing their first-ever Thomas Cup medal but the boys went one step further and booked a place in the final. India will face 14-time champions and holders Indonesia in the big-ticket final on Sunday in Bangkok.
Badminton lovers on social media were delighted as they lauded the historic feat from the Indian men in Thomas Cup.
It feels very special to witness the history and today team India has made into the finals of #ThomasCup 2022.
Come on boys #GoForGold #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/nlnginc2PU— Pramod Bhagat (@PramodBhagat83) May 13, 2022
Achievement Unlocked ?? for India at #ThomasCup2022
And the REACTION is priceless ??
, @bwfmedia#ThomasCup #TUC2022@BAI_Media @srikidambi @PRANNOYHSPRI @satwiksairaj @Shettychirag04 @lakshya_sen pic.twitter.com/Sp1pZ7UDax
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) May 13, 2022
Historic moment for Indian badminton. Kudos to HS Prannoy, what a comeback in the high-pressure match. India in the final of the #thomascup2022 with a 3-2 win over Denmark. India to face Indonesia in the final. @PRANNOYHSPRI @srikidambi @lakshya_sen @Shettychirag04 @satwiksairaj
— Rahul Rawat (@rawatrahul9) May 13, 2022
And history is created! India reaches finals of Thomas cup this year! What a team effort boys!!!! , @Shettychirag04 @satwiksairaj @PRANNOYHSPRI @srikidambi @lakshya_sen #vishnuvardhanGoudPanjala #Krishnaprasadgaraga
— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) May 13, 2022
India through to the Thomas Cup final beating Denmark. Amazing!!!!
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) May 13, 2022
Wow! We have to pinch ourselves to believe this. India beat Denmark 3-2 to enter the Thomas Cup badminton final! Delightful to watch this team punch above its weight for two nights in-a-row. Just wow!
— G Rajaraman (@g_rajaraman) May 13, 2022
Yesss!!! Quite simply an incredible, historic win for India to reach the final of the Thomas Cup. Srikanth, Prannoy and the doubles pair of Satwik and Chirag have put in some consistent & colossal performances over the week to beat 2 powerhouses in Malaysia and Denmark ?????? pic.twitter.com/RDnRTi9ikI
— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) May 13, 2022
Wow wow wow! , india reaches Thomas Cup finals! This is one of the most amazing moments in Indian sport! Salute to each of you badminton champs! Proud of all of you! @PRANNOYHSPRI @srikidambi @lakshya_sen @satwiksairaj @Shettychirag04
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) May 13, 2022
Beating the formidable Denmark team, India creates history by entering Thomas cup finals!! https://t.co/5RGocnrNF8
— Arvind Gupta (@buzzindelhi) May 13, 2022
Another HISTORIC WIN for #TeamIndia ,
OUR BOYS have done it again?????? re-writing history as they become the 1??st-ever Indian Team to advance to the FINALS of #ThomasCup ,
Keep it coming guys ????????
Superb Effort!!#TUC2022 pic.twitter.com/fbOZqvFyVz— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) May 13, 2022
India went down 0-1 after young and promising shuttler Lakshya Sen, the winner of World Championships bronze medal, lost to reigning Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen in straight games.
However, top-ranked doubles pairing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made it 1-1 after beating Kim Astrup and Mathias Christiansen 21-18 21-23 22-20 in a marathon battle.
Kidambi Srikanth then gave India the lead with an incredible win over World No. 4 Anders Antonsen. The world championships silver medalist and former World No. 1 defeated Antonsen 21-18, 12-21, 21-15.
However, the young doubles pairing of Krishna Prasad and Vishnuvardhan Goud lost their doubles tie in straight games.
Prannoy, like Thursday, delivered in the decider, beating Gemke in 3 games to deliver India the historic victory.
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