The 2026 Thomas & Uber Cup has concluded, with the Chinese national badminton team experiencing both triumph and disappointment. The men’s team successfully defended their Thomas Cup title by defeating the tournament’s biggest dark horse, France, in the final. Meanwhile, the women’s team fell short against long-time rivals South Korea in the Uber Cup final, missing out on their 17th title.
In the Uber Cup, China’s women’s team, making their 21st appearance in the final, lost 1-3 to South Korea, failing to retain the trophy. South Korea claimed their third Uber Cup title, with their previous two also coming at the expense of China in the finals.
China’s women’s team finished as runners-up in the Uber Cup.
Led by world number one women’s singles player An Se-young, the South Korean women’s team proved to be a formidable opponent. China’s top singles player Wang Zhiyi, who lost to An Se-young again, admitted, “I felt slower than my opponent in long rallies, and my adjustments after extended exchanges were not as quick. This is partly due to cardiovascular endurance, but also influenced by the court conditions and shuttlecock speed. I’ve seen the gap and will work on improving.”
Despite the loss, the Chinese women’s team is not dwelling on disappointment. As women’s doubles player Jia Yifan said, “Losing brings regret, but we need to think about how to win next time. First, we have to do our best, and we’ll fight again at the Asian Games.”
China’s men’s team claimed the Thomas Cup title.
In the Thomas Cup, the Chinese men’s team swept through the group stage with three wins, advancing as group leaders. They then defeated Malaysia and Denmark 3-0 in the knockout rounds to set up a final against France.
In the final, China secured two points in singles, relying on their strength in singles and squad depth to prevent France from repeating their earlier quick victories. They beat France 3-1 to lift the trophy, becoming the tournament’s biggest dark horse slayers.
This marks the second consecutive Thomas Cup title for China’s men’s team, the first time in 14 years they have defended the crown, and their 12th overall title, narrowing the gap with Indonesia’s record of 14 titles.
Shi Yuqi once again proved himself as the team’s clutch player, defeating Toma Junior Popov 2-1 in the final to avenge his loss at last year’s BWF World Tour Finals and secure the crucial first point for China. “Although I had some minor physical issues and my opponent was in good form, on the court it was all about fighting,” said Shi Yuqi, who had withdrawn from the group stage due to acute gastroenteritis. For the current Chinese team, Shi remains an indispensable anchor.
He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu also repeated their heroics from the previous Thomas Cup in Chengdu, securing the final point for China in the final. The “Little Pistol” duo, as they are known, have started a new chapter in their careers with this hard-earned Thomas Cup.
France’s performance was also impressive. The French team, which had never advanced beyond the group stage in five previous Thomas Cup appearances, made a historic run to the final. They stunned Indonesia, a traditional powerhouse and former champion, 4-1 in the final group match to reach the knockout stage. They then swept past Japan and India, both former champions, before falling to China. Their fairy-tale run was a testament to their rise.
In recent years, France has emerged as a strong force, with Toma Junior Popov and Alex Lanier breaking into the top 10 in men’s singles, and Christo Popov also in the top 20. This year, France broke Denmark’s monopoly on the European Men’s Team Championships, and their Thomas Cup success further proved that their achievements are no fluke.
For China’s men’s team, standing on the Thomas Cup podium once again is a powerful motivation for future competitions. And in the moment of glory, the audience also witnessed the inspiring story of a dark horse’s fierce struggle. Both victory and defeat serve as fuel for the next campaign.