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Thomas Cup: We knew we had the ability to get a medal, says HS Prannoy

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H.S Prannoy played a major role in India’s maiden triumph in the Thomas Cup world badminton team championship by winning two crucial fifth rubbers in the quarterfinals and semifinals.

India and Malaysia were tied 2-2 in the quarterfinal clash and everything depended on Prannoy’s match against Jun Hao Leong. The Indian shuttler defeated the Malaysian opponent 21-13, and 21-8. Prannoy encountered the same situation in the semis clash with Denmark and the 29-year-old from Kerala to prevailed over Rasmus Gemke in three games, coming back after losing the first game to win 12-21, 21-9, 21-12.

Prannoy, who has won a bronze medal in boys’ singles at the 2010 World Junior Championships, and a silver medallist at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games, has had big best results in team competitions winning the gold medal in team competitions at the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, Australia, bronze medals in Asian Team Championships in 2016 and 2020 besides the Thomas Cup gold last week.

He interacted with IANS over the phone, talking about the Thomas Cup triumph, its role in his career, and its impact on Indian badminton. Excerpts:

Q: Where will you place this title in the list of your achievements and for a team?

A: This is the biggest victory in my life. And no achievements of mine will come close to this. We knew we had the ability to get a medal, the team had the ability for sure. But never thought we can win this, not even in my dream I ever thought we can become world champions. Winning a tournament of this level is always very tough and to make that happen is incredible. I am very glad that we could make it happen.

Q: How do you think this will impact Indian badminton?

A: This victory is huge for India. This win is just not for us but for the next generation. The upcoming generation of players needs to believe that it’s possible to win and that is why for me and all of us here it was “kutch karke jana hain.” And we are very happy that we could do something that no one has done and these 10 days will be the most unforgettable moments of our lives.

Q: What do you think was the difference between this team and the previous ones that reached the quarterfinals but could not go beyond?

A: We always knew we had individual brilliance but playing a team championships and winning a Thomas Cup was never in our dreams. We had huge team bonding and we believed we could do something special. And after the quarterfinal win, we promised ourselves we will not let this opportunity go.

Q: The lack of depth in China’s current teams is one of the reasons for the field being so open this time? What are your thoughts on this aspect of Thomas Cup 2022?

A: Thomas Cup is a competition that not only tests the skills of individual players but also the depth of a country’s talent and one of the reasons why before this edition, only five nations had managed to win the Thomas Cup trophy. So it is one of the most prestigious team events and the most difficult ones too. You can not underestimate any team in such an event. We defeated two of the powerhouses, Malaysia, who are 5 times champions, and Indonesia who are 14 times title winners in the final in just three games – that speaks volumes for our players.

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‘Agar Hai Tumhari Aukat…’: AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj Slams Surya kumar Yadav, BCCI Over Pakistan Game In Asia Cup 2025

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Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj slammed Suryakumar Yadav, BCCI for playing match against Pakistan In Asia Cup 2025. He even challenged them to donate the money earned from the India-Pakistan match to the widows of the martyrs in Pahalgam attack.

Speaking at a press conference, he said, ” Suryakumar Yadav agar tumhari aukat hai, tumhari BCCI ki aukat hai aur tumhari ICC ki aukat hai toh tumhe dusri chunati bhi dete hai. Jitna paisa tumne iss broadcast rights se kamaya hai, advertisers se kamaya hai aur iss pure dhande cricket se kamaya hai dedo uss shahido ki vidhwao ko uss 26 aurto ko. Hum bhi maan jayenge tumne dedicate kiya hai.”

(If you have guts, if your BCCI and ICC have guts, whatever money you earned from broadcasters and advertisers, give it to the widows of the martyrs)

Suryakumar Yadav during the post match interview that his team stands in solidarity with the Pahalgam terror attack victims and dedicatd the win to the Pahalgam victims and armed forces. He said, Perfect occasion, taking the time out we stand by the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. We express our solidarity. Want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery. Hope they continue to inspire us all, and we give them more reasons on the ground whenever we get an opportunity to make them smile,” 

There was a lot of chatter surrounding the India-Pakistan match, with social media being flooded with messages to boycott the match. The terror attack in Pahalgam in April saw 26 tourists lose their lives. In May, India retaliated with Operation Sindoor.

A day before the match, India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate also stated that his players are aware of the sentiments of the people back home and know their emotions. The beginning of the contest between India and Pakistan on Sunday saw no handshakes between Suryakumar

India registered a comfortable 7 wicket win over Pakistan on Sunday. However, the Men in Blue have now qualified for super 4 stage after Oman were eliminated by United Arab Emirates. Pakistan needs to beat UAE to have chance to play India once again.

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IND vs PAK, Asia Cup 2025: How Team India & Pakistan Can Again Meet On September 21? Scenario Explained

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The much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025 clash between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium on September 14, Sunday was a one-sided fixture as the Men in Blue sealed a comfortable seven-wicket victory. However, fans have the prospect of watching the two teams lock horns again on September 21 if Pakistan qualify for the Super 4.

Pakistan face a boom or bust defeat after a humiliating defeat to the Men in Blue on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium. While the Men in Green still boasts of a positive net run-rate, they must beat UAE in their final group game on Wednesday. Should Pakistan qualify from Group A, they will play India on September 21 in Dubai.

If Pakistan lose their match to UAE and UAE beat Oman, UAE will have four points under their belt, enabling them to progress.

UAE are currently at the bottom of the points table in Group A with a net run-rate of -10.483But two wins will take the net run-rate out of equation. UAE can still qualify if they beat Pakistan and their game against Oman is washed out due to rain as their points tally will be higher. For Oman to qualify, they must beat an in-form Indian side and UAE. Additionally, they must also hope for Pakistan to face a loss or no result against UAE.

Meanwhile, tensions boiled over after the match as the Indian team refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterpart following the win. As a result, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha did not do the post-game presentation duties.

Hence, fans can expect heightened tensions should the two teams meet again in the multi-nation tournament.

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National News

Ind v Pak, Asia Cup: When and where to watch Sunday’s mega encounter

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New Delhi, Sep 13: India and Pakistan are set to renew their rivalry when they clash in a Group A fixture of the ongoing Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday. Both teams come into the high-voltage encounter after comfortable wins over the UAE and Oman, but their journeys since the last World Cup have followed different trajectories.

Pakistan have endured a turbulent period, struggling to find consistency and forge a clear identity as a team. Their batting has often looked brittle, while their bowling, once their strongest suit, has lacked the same sharpness. In contrast, India have grown into a formidable force, boasting a lethal combination of in-form batters and a bowling attack widely regarded as the best in the world.

Given their balance and depth, India will once again enter the contest as favourites. Yet, with the weight of history and rivalry, Pakistan remain capable of springing a surprise.

In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, many fans and former cricketers have voiced strong anger towards Pakistan, with some even questioning whether the match should go ahead.

However, the Indian government gave clearance for the much-anticipated game, allowing the country to play against Pakistan in “international and multilateral events”, but can’t engage in “bilateral sports events in each other’s country”.

Despite getting the official nod, there is not much hype for the weekend’s clash as tickets were available online on Saturday, a day before the match, which is not the case for matches between the nemesis.

Live Streaming details:

The match will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network and streamed on the SonyLIV app and website in India.

Squads:

India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.

Pakistan: Salman Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

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