In the early hours of Monday, the 2026 Thomas Cup final came to a close at the Horsens Arena in Denmark. The Chinese men’s team defeated the tournament’s biggest surprise package, France, 3–1, successfully defending the Thomas Cup and securing their 12th title in history.
The final was marked by drama even before the first shuttlecock was hit. Seven hours before the match, France submitted and then contested their lineup, claiming an error. After about an hour of deliberation, the Badminton World Federation allowed France to adjust, with both Popov brothers playing in two disciplines each (singles and doubles). The final order remained unchanged.
France had relied on this strategy—having the Popov brothers double up to get three singles matches played first—to upset powerhouses like Indonesia, Japan, and India on their way to the final. This put significant pressure on China’s singles players.
That pressure was evident from the opening match. Shi Yuqi faced a grueling battle with Toma Junior Popov, winning 21–16, 16–21, 21–17 in an 84-minute thriller to give China the first point. “I had no pressure because I trust myself and my teammates. On court, it was just about fighting,” Shi said.
Li Shifeng then took on the second singles against Alex Lanier, but Lanier controlled the match, winning 21–13, 21–10 to level the tie at 1–1.
The critical third singles match saw Weng Hongyang face Christo Popov in a 95-minute marathon. After splitting the first two games 22–20 each, the decider came down to sheer willpower. Weng saved match points and eventually clinched it 21–19, giving China a 2–1 lead.
With the score at 2–1, the second doubles pair of He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu stepped up. Two years ago in the Chengdu Thomas Cup final, they sealed China’s victory in the same position. This time, they again delivered, defeating France’s Eloi/Leo 21–13, 21–16 to lock in the championship.
As the final point was won, teammates rushed onto the court, forming a circle in celebration. It was the first team photo of the Chinese men’s squad in 16 days at Horsens—a picture of champions.
The Chinese men’s team used their depth and resilience to shatter France’s dream of an unbeaten run, winning both singles points to prevent an early finish. As dawn broke over many parts of China, the news of the Thomas Cup defense electrified the badminton world.
Over the nine match days, Horsens enjoyed an unusual stretch of sunny weather with temperatures above 20°C, surprising even locals. On finals day, rain fell, bringing a fitting end to the 2026 Thomas & Uber Cup in the Danish spring drizzle. For China, there was the thrill of the men’s triumph and the disappointment of the women’s silver medal, alongside recognition of the progress made by opponents.
China’s head singles coach, Xia Xuanze, praised his team’s commitment. “Every player came with the goal of raising the national flag and singing the national anthem. They put the team first, and their fighting spirit is commendable. The men’s team fought hard step by step, and withstood the challenge from a strong French side. We can learn a lot from this success. The women’s team will also reflect on their final defeat to South Korea and work to overcome adversity, aiming for a strong performance at the Asian Games this year.”
Xia also noted the rise of new forces, particularly France and Denmark, both European teams that reached the podium. “They have improved significantly, and it’s not just home support—they have made real progress in overall strength,” he said. On finals day, many traveling Chinese fans turned the away venue into a home one, inspiring the team to play with style.
The team will return to China soon, with a busy schedule ahead: the Thailand Open starts next week. “Players need to recover mentally and physically, prevent injuries, and focus on accumulating ranking points,” Xia added.
