India to Miss Lakshya Sen in Thomas Cup Semifinal vs France Due to Injury

India will be without star shuttler Lakshya Sen for their crucial Thomas Cup semifinal clash against France, as he continues to recover from a swollen right elbow.

The 24-year-old sustained the injury during India’s quarterfinal win over Chinese Taipei, where he delivered a stunning comeback victory against Chou Tien Chen. Lakshya saved two match points to win 18-21, 22-20, 21-17 in a gruelling contest lasting nearly 90 minutes.

According to his mentor Vimal Kumar, the injury occurred when Lakshya dived for a shot during a long rally. He is also dealing with blisters on his feet, making him unavailable for the semifinal tie.

In his absence, young Ayush Shetty will lead India’s singles challenge against world No. 4 Christo Popov. Veteran Kidambi Srikanth will take on Alex Lanier in the second singles, while H. S. Prannoy is set to face Toma Junior Popov in the third match.

If the tie extends to doubles, India’s Hariharan Amsakarunan and M R Arjun will face Eloi Adam and Leo Rossi. The final match could see the star Indian duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty taking on the Popov brothers.

Despite Lakshya’s absence, team officials remain confident. Badminton Association of India secretary Sanjay Mishra said the team has enough depth to compete strongly and expressed hope that Lakshya may recover in time for the final if India advances.

India has already secured a medal by reaching the semifinals. The team famously won the Thomas Cup in 2022 and has a history of podium finishes in the tournament.