Thomas Cup: Indian badminton heroics knock even cricket off front pages, this could be sport’s 1983 moment, says official
- Triumph could be turning point for badminton much like country’s maiden world cup win
- Underdogs ruthless in dispatching 14-time champions Indonesia in Sunday’s final in Bangkok
India’s historic first Thomas Cup crown was splashed across front pages on Monday with some people saying it can be a turning point for badminton much like the country’s maiden cricket World Cup title in 1983.
Coming in as underdogs against 14-time champions Indonesia, a ruthless India won the final of the men’s team championship in Bangkok to propel badminton to a rare place on centre stage in the cricket-crazy nation.
World number 11 Kidambi Srikanth defeated higher-ranked Jonatan Christie to wrap up a 3-0 victory and trigger wild celebrations in the Indian camp as their players stormed the court with the national flag.
“Team India scales the peak,” read the headline in The Indian Express.
“Our Highness On Court,” said the Hindustan Times.
“I would rate this as the biggest ever achievement [for Indian badminton],” former international and team manager Vimal Kumar told reporters from the Thai capital.
“When you call a nation a top badminton nation, all singles and doubles players perform. That is exactly what happened.”
