Thomas Cup Final highlights: India win maiden gold medal by beating 14-time champions Indonesia

INDIA ENTER HISTORY BOOKS!

India become only the sixth nation to win the Thomas Cup – joining Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Denmark and Japan. Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, Chirag Shetty, and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy will get plenty of deserved attention today. But bear in mind, India wouldn’t be here without HS Prannoy! It has been an all-round effort and it showed today as well. 

With that, we bid you goodbye but stay abreast with sports news from around the world with Firstpost . Speaking of, CSK are taking on GT in the IPL. Follow that live!

Cash reward for Indian contingent

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has announced a cash reward of ₹1 crore for the ???? gold-medal winning ???????? Indian team

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates the Indian team

The Indian badminton team has scripted history! The entire nation is elated by India winning the Thomas Cup! Congratulations to our accomplished team and best wishes to them for their future endeavours. This win will motivate so many upcoming sportspersons.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 15, 2022

Dreams do come true!

🇮🇳 India's road to this 🥇 moment!

beat 🇩🇪 Germany 5-0

beat 🇨🇦 Canada 5-0

lost to 🇹🇼 Chinese Taipei 2-3

beat five-time champs 🇲🇾 Malaysia 3-2

beat 2016 winners 🇩🇰 Denmark 3-2

beat 14-time champs 🇮🇩 Indonesia 3-0#ThomasCup2022 #Badminton 🏸 Live: https://t.co/wSOSa7KGD6 pic.twitter.com/BSKXCO5M7z

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) May 15, 2022

Yes it happened!

India’s national anthem rings around the arena

THOMAS CUP 2022 CHAMPIONS: INDIA!

WHAT A MOMENT!

DAY TO REMEMBER FOR 🇮🇳 INDIA!pic.twitter.com/iVLA5xL6yM

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) May 15, 2022

MOMENT TO REMEMBER!

What an incredible win boys!!! Congratulations 🎉 You did it🇮🇳 Such a proud moment for India! @lakshya_sen @srikidambi @satwiksairaj @Shettychirag04 @PRANNOYHSPRI #ThomasCup #Bangkok2022 pic.twitter.com/c5ydxaAYHs

— Neha Aggarwal Sharma OLY (@nehaaggarwal) May 15, 2022

How history was clinched

???????? INDIA 3-0 ???????? INDONESIA

1️⃣ Lakshya Sen def. Anthony Ginting 8-21, 21-17, 21-16 (Sen came from game down)

2️⃣ Chirag Shetty/Satwiksairaj Rankireddy def. Ahsan/Sukamuljo 18-21, 23-21, 21-19 (four match points saved by Chirag/Satwiksairaj)

3️⃣ Kidambi Srikanth def. Jonatan Christie 21-15, 23-21 (Srikanth saved game point to win the match with three straight points)

WINNING FEELS!

INDIA WIN THE THOMAS CUP!

Kidambi Srikanth beats Jonatan Christie 21-15, 23-21 to seal the title for India. A smash to Christie’s left and that is how Srikanth helped write history for Indian badminton

Christie with one more game point

That was on the platter for Srikanth to put away but he doesn’t get the job done. The smash is into Christie’s body but he flicks the racket to send the shuttle back. What a pick!

One game point saved

Srikanth with deft touch and the backhand drop shot is perfectly placed to make it 20-20

Christie with two straight points

Now Christie draws back! A gorgeous drop shot finds Srikanth short and the desperate lunge is not enough. He hits the deck as Christie brings up game point at 20-19

Srikanth leads 19-18

Once again, the Indian shuttler is pulling through at the closing stage of the game. He picks up three straight points and is up by a point

Srikanth chipping away

Kidambi Srikanth not giving up. A drop shot is followed by a backhand push that lands in. Christie misjudges and the shuttle is well in.

Christie leads

Kidambi Srikanth hits the net as he goes for a smash. He led 12-8 at one stage, now Christie is up by two points at 17-15

Srikanth 11-8 up

At the second game interval, Srikanth takes 11-8 lead. Smashes it into the corner and Christie can only see it land in

Srikanth with quick reflexes!

Christie has the shuttle at the net, rushes forward and catches Srikanth off. Or does he? Flicks it and Srikanth throws his racket at it, finds the shuttle and it lands in! 9-7 to Srikanth

Srikanth takes the opening game 21-15

Game points galore for Kidambi Srikanth. He serves and Christie hits it straight into the net. That was simple enough in the end. Srikanth takes it 21-15 in 19 minutes

Srikanth makes it 19-15

Christie misjudges a deep shot and Srikanth has his fist clenched. He’s coming through at the fag end of the game. Now a low smash and Christie’s attempt at getting it back doesn’t work – into the net. 19-15 now

Srikanth smashes into corner

Srikanth with inconsistent shot-making. Finds the net on one smash to see his lead evaporate once again at 15-15. On the next, he jumps and angles it across.

Srikanth extends lead

From 8-2 up, ???????? Srikanth Kidambi has his lead cut to two points against ???????? Jonatan Christie. He sends an angled smash across and Christie finds the net. 13-9 now

Christie with six straight points

Srikanth has thrown his massive 8-2 lead away. Six consecutive points for the Indonesian shuttler

Up next: Kidambi Srikanth vs Jonathan Christie

Srikanth is yet to be beaten this week

India 2-0 Indonesia

Yes, Yes, Yes!!! Satwik and Chirag you beauties….Saved 4 match points and won. This Indian Mens Badminton team is made of something else. What a brilliant win 👏👏👏👏🇮🇳🏸

— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) May 15, 2022

Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy powering India forward!

WARNING: SENSATIONAL IMAGES!

India take 2-0 lead!

India take a 2-0 lead over Indonesia as Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy beat Ahsan/Kevin 18-21, 23-21, 21-19 in 73 minutes. Incredible stuff from the Indian team to come from four match points down to seal the contest.

Match point India!

One comes, one goes. Ahsan with sensational smashes from the back and then moves further to the net to close the point out

Match point for India

Challenge successful from India and they’ve found the line! Make it 18-18 and this is going very close! Two brilliant smashes and India have match points!

Ahsan finds the gap!

Satwik errs in judgement and Ahsan has found the right side of the line. There was very little to play with but the Indonesian shuttler makes it! 18-17 to Indonesia

India draw level

16-16 now! Hasan with the shuttle into the net and India with consecutive points to level this match. Nerve-wrecking stuff!

Kevin with insane shots

Kevin with sensational guiding shots from the back of the court to catch Satwik out. Got one back but not the second. Indonesia keeping their lead in this

Indonesia with five straight points

Five straight points for the Indonesian team. From 9-11 at the game interval, they’ve once again come off the block better and make it 14-11

Satwik/Chirag hold two point advantage

The Indian pairing of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy are 11-9 to the good in the decisive game. Good judgement from Rankireddy as the shuttle goes long

CHIRAG SHETTY IS PUMPED!

India save four match points, win the second game

Misjudged by Kevin and the shuttle has found the line. Well in! Now India have a game point. And taken! High shuttle at the net and it is dispatched! Chirag-Satwik take the second game 23-21. India save four match points and have forced a third game!

Match point Indonesia

Kevin with incredible interception at the net to put the pressure on Indian pairing. And at 20-17 they have match points

Five straight points for Indonesia

Chirag with a desperate attempt at getting the shuttle back but it only finds the net. Ahsan/Kevin winning 12 of the last 14 points and they make it 19-14

Indonesia level the second game

Misjudged by Rankireddy. He goes for the backhand return but misses the shuttle completely. A desperate challenge to see if it landed out but it didn’t. Neck-and-neck now. Rankireddy with a third service error and Indonesians draw level at 13-13

Shetty/Satwik lead in second game

Smart serve from Satwiksairaj Rankireddy. Flick of the wrist at the end and it lands in as the Indonesian pairing misjudge it. The Indian team are 11-6 up in the second game

First game to Indonesia

???????? Mohammad Ahsan/Kevin Sukamuljo take the opening game 21-18 over ???????? Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty in 17 minutes. Smart bit of badminton to seize the opening game

Indonesian head for first game

Ahsan/Sukamuljo are heading towards clinching the first game. Indian pairing not clinical enough when they can’t afford to make any mistakes. Two service errors won’t help in a final. Push by Chirag from the back of the court lands in

Men’s doubles underway

Second match of the Thomas Cup final underway. ???????? Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty take on ???????? Mohammad Ahsan/Kevin Sukamuljo. 7-7 in the opening game

“Menality Monster” is a fitting description for Lakshya Sen!

Lakshya Sen also a Mentality Monster 👏👏👏 Losing the first game 8-21 and losing 12 points in a row and yet finding the courage to come back and beat Olympic bronze medallist Anthony Ginting. Come on 🇮🇳 @lakshya_sen

— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) May 15, 2022

1-0 to India!

Yas yas yasssssssss @lakshya_sen you beauty !! 😍🫵

1-0 - India 🇮🇳

Come onnnnnnnnnnnnn

— PRANNOY HS (@PRANNOYHSPRI) May 15, 2022

Lakshya Sen goes down in a heap after that comeback win

( Voot India)

India 1-0 Indonesia

Ginting with a backhand and he looks to find the sideline but misses. Four match points for Sen. Lakshya Sen wins it! He beats Ginting 8-21, 21-17, 21-16 in 65 minutes. Shuttle trickles the net and Ginting is unable to pick it up. Sen goes down in a heap and he has every reason to. Looked down and out in the first game. Comes back and gives India a 1-0 lead

Sen pounces and maintains his lead!

Lakshya Sen nudges the shuttle, to Ginting’s right and the low return is up and high near the net. Sen jumps forward and closes the point out. Once again on the next point. Sen is oozing confidence and is rushing to the finish line

Sen smashes it!

Brilliant badminton from both players! Lakshya Sen and Anthony Ginting pick up one shot after another, go side-to-side, go up and front, before Sen smashes it across and beats Ginting to his right. Sen with four of five points since the change of ends and it is 12-12

Ginting 11-7 up in the third game

Lakshya Sen jumps, has the smash in his sights, has the space to go for it, court vacant, but he finds the net. Slipped right after. Ginting is 11-7 up in the third game

Lakshya Sen levels it!

On five game point chances, Lakshya Sen with a service error! On the second, Sen gets a smash back, but leaves the court vacant for Ginting to deceive with a drop shot. 20-17 to Sen now. Sealed it! Angled smash from Sen to close the second game at 21-17

Sen finds the net, 15-13

Lakshya Sen goes for a backhand shot and finds the net. He had the opportunity to seize the point earlier in the rally but left it short. He leads 15-13

Sen 11-7 in second set

Lakshya Sen is up by four points at the interval in the second set. 11-7 to the Indian shuttler

Sen throwing in a comeback

Ginting started the second set much like how he ended the first. But Sen has drawn himself back into this with some well disguised shots and urging Ginting into playing more shots. A 46-shot rally (!!) makes it 9-5 in favour of Sen

Ginting wins first set 21-8

Anthony Ginting accumulates 12 straight points before Lakshya Sen breaks the streak. But on second set point chance, Ginting jumps and smashes it angled across to Sen’s right. Ruthless!

Ginting toying with Sen

Anthony Ginting is almost toying with Lakshya Sen. Notches 10 straight points with back-to-back drop shots and Sen has absolutely no answer whatsoever

Ginting makes it 16-7

Eight straight points for Ginting now. A sublime drop shot catches Sen off guard and he is unable to scramble forward to catch the shuttle

Ginting 11-7 in first set

Off the court, the crowd is favouring the Indonesian shuttler. And he’s making it easy to support him on the court. Sen tries to take a deep shot late, hits close to the net and Ginting is on to it in a flash and punches it straight to Sen to take a 11-7 lead in the first set

Ginting commanding rallies

Ginting is in sublime touch. He’s getting everything back and is commanding the flow of the rallies. A smash down the line and Sen is unable to get it back. 9-7 to Ginting

Thomas Cup final underway

Ginting serving first in this final. Sen has won their only previous meeting and that too rather easily (21-7, 21-9 in the German Open). Lakshya Sen is playing against the drift

Indonesia’s road to the final

beat Singapore 4-1

beat Thailand 4-1

beat Korea 3-2

beat China 3-0

beat Japan 3-2

India’s road to the final

beat Germany 5-0

beat Canada 5-0

lost to Chinese Taipei 2-3

beat Malaysia 3-2

beat Denmark 3-2

India’s squad for the Thomas Cup

Singles: Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Priyanshu Rajawat

Doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, M.R Arjun, Dhruv Kapila, Krishna Prasad Garaga, Vishnuvardhan Goud Panjala

Recent Thomas Cup winners:

2010 – China

2012 – China

2014 – Japan

2016 – Denmark

2018 – China

2020 – Indonesia (in 2021)

Clock ticking down on the final

#ThomasUberCups If going according to the H2H, the Thomas Cup trophy will reside in Delhi, for the next two years 😳
Excited to get the final started!#Badminton #Indonesia vs #India pic.twitter.com/oDeD6iFZr7

— Steen Pedersen, Badminton (@steenschleicher) May 15, 2022

One final push!

One last time!

Let’s give it our all Boys.

Watch us live from 1130 IST

Come onnnnnnnnnn 🔥

Pc - @bwfmedia pic.twitter.com/Xa4dqpkGPL

— PRANNOY HS (@PRANNOYHSPRI) May 15, 2022

Not in Bangkok? Support the team by watching and rooting for them!

We all are ready to give one more best performance for the nation. Lets go boyzzz!!! Fans please do watch and support our India live starts from 11.30 Am. 🇮🇳 ✊🏽 #ThomasAndUberCups2022 bring it on. pic.twitter.com/oC91aL5rZF

— Satwik SaiRaj Rankireddy (@satwiksairaj) May 15, 2022

Lakshya Sen will get the final underway

Tomorrow is the BIG day. Let’s give it our best TOGETHER. Need your cheers, INDIA 🇮🇳
The final starts at 11:30 am tomorrow.#ThomasCup2022 #Sports18 #ThomasCupOnSports18 #Partnership

— Lakshya Sen (@lakshya_sen) May 14, 2022

Where to watch the Thomas Cup final

First time finalist India take on 14 time defending champions Indonesia in their quest to clinch the gold medal and create history.

Catch the Thomas Cup 2022 Final and #VootForIndia. Open Access for all, streams Live & Free, 15th May at 11:30 AM on #Voot & @Sports18 pic.twitter.com/fZbfX2kjrr

— Voot Select (@VootSelect) May 14, 2022

Order of play

Lakshya Sen will take on Anthony Ginting in the starting match of the final. It will be followed by doubles featuring Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty vs Ahsan/Sukamuljo. In the third match, Srikanth Kidambi goes up against Jonathan Christie. In the doubles then, Arjun/Dhruv return to the fold to face Alfian/Ardianto. HS Prannoy could prove decisive yet again in the fifth match vs Rhustavito

Thomas Cup final: India vs Indonesia

India are into the Thomas Cup final for the first-time. Indonesia have been here before. They’ve won it 14-times! There is a massive mismatch between the two finalists. But given how well India have competed, they cannot be counted out. HS Prannoy secured the vital point vs Denmark to clinch the berth in the title clash.