China wins 12th Thomas Cup title, France fails to make history

China's badminton team reaffirmed its dominance in the world men's team championship by successfully defending its Thomas Cup 2026 title. In the final held at Forum Horsens, Denmark, on Monday, May 4, 2026, China defeated France 3-1.

Despite being favored, China faced fierce resistance from France, who delivered impressive performances throughout the tournament as dark horses.

The opening match featured a tight duel between Shi Yu Qi and Christo Popov. The world's top-ranked player was pushed to a rubber game before securing a 21-16, 16-21, 21-17 victory in the nearly 90-minute contest.

Shi dominated the first game with aggressive attacking variations that stifled his opponent's development. Christo Popov rebounded in the second game through effective and aggressive net play.

In the deciding game, Shi Yu Qi displayed composure during crucial moments to give China a 1-0 lead.

France leveled the score in the second match when Alex Lanier delivered a commanding 21-13, 21-10 straight-game victory over Li Shi Feng.

This marked Lanier's first career win against Li Shi Feng and preserved France's hopes for a finals upset.

However, France failed to capitalize on this momentum. In the third match, Weng Hong Yang restored China's lead after a grueling 96-minute battle against Toma Junior Popov, prevailing 22-20, 20-22, 21-19.

Toma applied pressure by leveling at 18-18 in the third game, but Weng maintained calm during the decisive points to secure China's critical victory.

The championship was ultimately sealed in the second Men's Doubles match, where the pair He Ji Ting / Ren Xiang Yu delivered a solid 21-13, 21-16 victory over Eloi Adam / Leo Rossi.

This triumph marks China's 12th Thomas Cup title, narrowing the gap with record-holder Indonesia's 14 trophies.

This men's team success came as consolation after their women's team failed to defend the Uber Cup 2026 title, losing to South Korea in that final.

Despite falling short of their first title, France's tournament performance drew significant positive attention. Their displays signaled the emergence of a new force in World Badminton, particularly in men's singles where they eliminated several top nations including Indonesia.