India’s journey to securing another Thomas Cup medal now hinges on facing a familiar and formidable opponent. The 2022 champions will now face Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals, setting up an intense match-up that promises to test India’s strength and strategy.
The draw has placed India against one of the most challenging teams in the knockout stage. Chinese Taipei brings a strong presence in the men’s singles category, along with a range of tactical options that can be particularly effective on the fast courts in Horsens. This combination makes them a tough team to beat, especially for a side like India that is aiming to maintain its momentum.
India still recalls the group-stage loss to Taiwan in 2022, which ultimately led to their triumph in the Thomas Cup title. At that time, they lost both the first singles and first doubles matches. This experience could serve as a valuable lesson, helping them avoid a similar slow start this time around.
According to reports, Chinese Taipei managed to defeat Denmark 3-2 in the group stage, despite the absence of world number four Chou Tien-chen and newly crowned Asian Championships winner Lin Chun-yi. Lin was defeated by Magnus Johannesen in three games, but he recently showcased his prowess by defeating India’s Ayush Shetty at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo.
However, there may be opportunities for India if some of the Taiwanese players are dealing with injuries. Lakshya Sen is expected to play a crucial role in the top singles match. Sen has won both of their encounters in 2025, and their career record stands at 4-4. He has also secured notable victories over Chou at the Olympics and All England Championships.
Pressure will also fall on India’s doubles department. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who have had some difficulties in finishing key points in their recent matches, are anticipated to lead the charge in the first doubles.
Chiu Hsian Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin performed impressively for Chinese Taipei against Denmark, while the second doubles pair of Liu Kuang Heng and Yang Po Hsuan also contributed a point. However, the real challenge for India might come from the depth of Chinese Taipei’s bench. Lee Chia Hao remains available as a reserve singles option, allowing the team to adjust its lineup based on the matchups.
Other Quarterfinal Matches Are Equally Competitive
The other quarterfinal matches are equally promising. China faces Malaysia in one of the most anticipated clashes of the round, while Thailand takes on Denmark in another closely contested match. Meanwhile, France continues its impressive campaign against Japan.
In the match between China and Malaysia, China is considered the favorite due to their squad depth and strong doubles combinations. However, the experienced Malaysian pairs could make the tie more competitive. Japan, on the other hand, is more balanced and has more experience in high-stakes matches. The contest between Thailand and Denmark is likely to be the closest of the round, given both teams’ strong singles lineups.
The winners of these matches will move one step closer to the prestigious Thomas Cup title.
