🏸 The Drop
France didn’t win the Thomas Cup… but they might have changed everything.
China retained the title with a 3–1 win, built on control, depth, and big-match reliability.
But this week belonged to France.
From the edge of elimination in the group stages, needing four matches against Indonesia, 2020 champions the last time it was in Denmark, they did just that winning 4-1, eliminating the former winners.
Their formula was clear:
👉 Three fearless singles
👉 Tactical discipline under pressure
👉 Relentless, almost contagious belief from their ever-cheering team!
QF: They dismantled Japan 3–0.
SF: They dismantled India 3–0.
And in the final, they pushed China far harder than the scoreline suggests.
Christo Popov took the game to Shi Yu Qi, whom he defeated last time in the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou. Shi, who had a brilliant tournament, could just find the winners when he needed it most in the deciding game.
Alex Lanier delivered a perfect response. An impressive straight game win over Li Shi Feng who won their last two encounters, but 2026 Lanier is a different level.
Toma Junior Popov kept the intensity high in an almighty 96-minute marathon against Weng Hong Yang. He/ Tan were just too hot in the MD against Adam/ Rossi to seal the win.
On another day? It could have been golden. But even in defeat, something shifted. France aren’t an emerging story anymore. They’re part of the main plot 👏
Over in the Uber Cup, Korea delivered one of the most complete team performances of the tournament.
An Se Young set the tone early, sharp, aggressive, and composed.
Kim Ga Eun produced the defining swing, outplaying Chen Yu Fei with patience and precision. Then Baek Ha Na / Kim Hye Jeong closed it with resilience over 85 minutes of pressure.
No panic. No drop-off. Korea wrestle back their title from China after two years.
💥 Smash Headlines
🇫🇷 France reach their first-ever Thomas Cup final, a historic breakthrough
🇨🇳 China secure another team title, powered by depth across singles and doubles
🇰🇷 Korea reclaim the Uber Cup, ending China’s hold
🇫🇷 🇩🇰 Europe places two teams in Thomas Cup semifinals for the first time
🔄 3×15 scoring system confirmed — arriving January 2027
Toma Junior Popov
🔥 What everyone is talking about
🧠 The scoring system is changing
Badminton will officially move to a 3×15 scoring format from 2027.
The intent:
⏰ Shorter, more predictable match durations
🌡️ More high-pressure moments earlier in games
📺 Increased broadcast and fan appeal
The trade-off?
🐌 Less margin for slow starts.
📉 More volatility.
💪 Potentially less room for endurance-based comebacks.
The fundamentals won’t change but the feel of matches absolutely will.
🤦♂️ The Thomas Cup final ‘faux pas’
France’s historic final almost came with unnecessary drama.
An administrative error saw Lucas Renoir listed in doubles instead of Christo Popov in the official submission.
Under competition regulations, BWF reviewed and corrected the lineup before play.
A small detail but in a final of this magnitude, details matter.
🌏 On the tour
🇹🇭 Next stop: Thailand Open (12–17 May)
After the emotional intensity of team events, the tour resets in Bangkok.
But the storylines don’t slow down.
Men’s Singles:
🇹🇭 Kunlavut Vitidsarn looks to deliver at home
🇲🇾 Lee Zii Jia targets a third Thailand Open title (2022, 2024)
Women’s Singles:
Thailand brings serious depth:
Ratchanok Intanon (3)
Pornpawee Chochuwong (4)
Supanida Katethong (6)
👉 Expect a strong home push. Katethong hoping for another special moment at home like she did two years ago.
Men’s Doubles:
🇮🇳 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty return as top seeds
Searching for their first title since winning here two years ago
A quieter week on paper but plenty building beneath the surface.
👀 PLAYERS MAKING NOISE
🇲🇾 Lee Zii Jia
Stepped into the pressure-heavy third singles role for Malaysia and went undefeated.
A reminder of his ability when responsibility is clear.
🇩🇰 Denmark’s next wave
With Axelsen stepping away, the transition has begun:
Anders Antonsen leads. Magnus Johannesen pushes elite players including win over AE champ Lin Chun-yi and pushing Li Shi Feng in SF. Ditlev Holm nearly delivered a perfect week for Denmark, nearly causing heart break for Chinese Taipei, 25-27 in third vs Chi Yu-jen.
🇧🇬 Kaloyana Nalbantova (20)
Defeated Ratchanok Intanon in the group stages. Climbing fast, playing without fear. Definition of one to watch!
🎙️ Off court
This is magic! What an adventure we are on. - Christo Popov
🎯 Tactic of the week
🧠 How to handle pressure (without overthinking)
We saw that events bring a different kind of pressure:
👉 Teammates watching
👉 Momentum swings
👉 National expectations
One simple technique used in elite sport:
🤝 Non-dominant hand squeeze
What to do:
Squeeze your left hand (if right handed)
15–30 seconds before key moments
🤔 Why it works?
Activates the right brain hemisphere
Reduces conscious overthinking
Helps you stay instinctive and automatic
Used in sports like tennis, football, and badminton, especially for high-pressure execution moments.
Simple. Repeatable. Effective.
📝 Based on research into non-dominant hand contractions and performance under pressure
🙌 Final point
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