India scripted history in the Thomas Uber Cup 2022 defeating 14-time Champions Indonesia in Bangkok on Sunday, May 15. Led by Lakshya Sen’s incredible victory against Anthony Ginting, India won three straight games against players who were ranked much higher than them in the world badminton rankings.
Lakshya Sen and the doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty came back from a game deficit to win their respective matches. The crowd cheered with joy as India won the first two matches and set up an exciting game between Kidambi Srikanth and Jonathan Christie. Srikanth smashed his way through the first game, defeating Christie 21-15 in a stunning win. While the match became much nervy in the second game, Srikanth held his nerve to seal the deal for India. He took the tie to 23-21, but kept his calm to give India a historic win at the prestigious competition.
Ahead of Srikanth, Lakshya Sen came back from a set down (8-21) and overcame a injury scare to put on a dominating show against fifth ranked Anthony Ginting. That seemed to set the tone for India as they never back down from a fight.
In the second match as well, the duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were down 18-21 in the first game. Despite an awkward show, the Indian doubles pair came clutch in tight moments of the game to seal an unlikely win against the Indonesian badminton pair, who had lost just one match in the tournament. Satwik and Chriag won the next two game 23-21 and 21-19 to give India and unlikely lead. The rest as seen off by Srikanth.
The nation came together to congratulate the Indian badminton team won remained undefeated throughout their first final.
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
History: India beats 14-time Thomas Cup champions Indonesia to win their first-ever Thomas Cup.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 15, 2022
Only SIX countries have won the #ThomasCup. India is now the latest entrant.
14 – Indonesia (1958-2020)
10 – China (1982-2018)
5 – Malaysia (1949-1992)
1 – Japan (2014)/Denmark (2016)/INDIA (#ThomasCup2022)#Badminton— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) May 15, 2022
History made. Welcome to India #Thomascup! Phenomenal!
Jai Hind pic.twitter.com/EO3wW0q8d2— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 15, 2022
Wow, wow, JUST WOW! @satwiksairaj and @Shettychirag04 come back from 4 Match points down to win in 3.. India 2-0 up, needs one win in the last 3 matches to create HISTORY in Thomas Cup. Just incredible! Cmon INDIA! #ThomasCup2022
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) May 15, 2022
There is an absolute thriller being played out at the Thomas Cup final in Bangkok. You need to watch this.
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) May 15, 2022
HISTORYCREATED !
Congratulations to the Indian men’s badminton team’s for winning the Thomas Cup!
This extraordinary feat, with succesive victories over Malaysia, Denmark and Indonesia, calls for matching honour by the nation.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/P3bTgsdtOS
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) May 15, 2022
Imagine a team winning the Davis Cup with no member having reached the finals of a Grand Slam before – winning a Thomas Cup with no players having won an Olympic medal should surely be as monumental, perhaps even more?
— Aniket Mishra (@aniketmishra299) May 15, 2022
