'...bigger than the 1983 World Cup win': Here's why Thomas Cup win is special for India

India has done the unthinkable by winning the Badminton's biggest team championship, Thomas Cup title for the very first time after Lakshya Sen, Satwik/Chirag and Kidambi Srikanth exemplary performances in the final against 14-time champions Indonesia.

Chief National Coach for the India national badminton team, Pullela Gopichand said that India's success at Thomas Cup 2022 is bigger than the Indian Cricket team winning the 1983 World Cup.

Indian badminton players have been performing consistently well in recent years but this win is special as this is the first major win for India in a team event. India had never reached the final of Thomas Cup before this and this was their first ever title in the 73 years of tournament.

Also read: India win their maiden Thomas Cup title, defeat defending champions Indonesia 3-0

After multiple Olympic medals and amazing individual perfomance over the years, Indian badminton has finally delivered in a team format.

Why Thomas Cup win is special for India?

• 6th country to win Thomas Cup.
• First ever title in the 73 years of tournament.
• Defeated Indonesia in the final who is the most successful team in Thomas Cup with 14 titles.
• Defeated former champions Denmark in the semis and 5-time champions Malaysia in the quarterfinals.

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Indian shuttlers’ achievements in last 10 years

• India had won their first ever mixed team event gold at CWG 2018.
• India had won three Olympics medals in the last three Olympics.
• Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu have won Olympic medals.
• Sindhu won the World championships in 2019.
• Sindhu has two Asian Championships bronze medals (2014 & 2022).
• India has 7 men (singles) in the top 50 World rankings, highest by any nation.
• The doubles pair, Satwik and Chirag are also in the top 10.
• Kidambi Srikanth and Saina have been no. 1 in the world rankings.
• Kidambi Srikanth and Lakshya Sen finished second and third respectively at World Championships, 2022.