Thomas Cup 2018, Group A: India vs France, Live updates

But it's Popov who has the last laugh as he seals the final set 21-19.
Final Score: Popov def Sen 22-20, 19-21, 21-19.

It's all done and dusted as Lakshya Sen too, much like the Indian contingent failed to end up on the winning side. With this loss, India suffers a 4-1 upset at the hands of the French.

What drama!

Lakshya Sen saving his best for the last as he takes 3 points on the trot to make it 19-20.

The French shuttler edges closer to set and match point. Can Lakshya Sen script a comeback or will he suffer a setback?
Score: 19-15.

The French takes the lead once again in the penultimate moment.
Score: 17-15, Popov leads

And Sen squanders the lead for the umpteenth time in this match as Popov level terms at 15-15.

Lakshya Sen exerting his dominion in the final set as he leads 15-12.

Popov is showing good fight, but the Indian shuttler is not letting the French have it easy.
Score: 11-9, Sen in the lead

Lakshya Sen looking consistent as he maintains the 3 points lead.
Score: 10-7!

The Indian extends his lead to three points.
Score: 8-5.

Lakshya Sen looking to build on the momentum from last game as he takes the lead at 5-4.

Set 3 evenly poised so far with the scores reading 2-2.

It's time for Set 3!

The Indian shuttler scripts an emphatic victory in set 2 to keep himself in the hunt for the match.
Score: 21-19

And it's set point for Lakshya Sen. Score 20-19

Looks like the set will go all the way down to the wire with the scoreline evenly poised at 17-17.

The Indian shuttler takes the lead after an in intriguing net rally. Sen leading 16-15.

Sen shows strong character to pull the game back at 14-14!

Lakshya Sen with a clever drop shot to make it 12-13. Can he overturn the deficit and take the lead?

Looks like Lakshya is finding it hard to establish his foothold as he again succumbs to a two points deficit.
Score: 11-9, in favour of the French shuttler.

The Indian has negated the deficit with 4 consecutive points. It's even-stevens currently in set 2 at 9-9

Lakshya Sen not letting his guards down as he pulls back two points to make it 9-7.

Popov doubles his lead to four points.
Score: 9-5, Sen trails.

The French shuttler establish a two point lead with the scoreline reading 7-5 in his favour.

Score tied currently at 2-2 as Lakshya Sen will be keen to not repeat his deeds of Set 1.

Set 2 begins!

What a turn of events!
Popov seals a thriller of a Set 1, 22-20

Sen finally breaks the jinx to make it deuce.
Score: 20-20!

And Popov pulls of the impossible as he overturns a 9 point deficit to take the lead at the penultimate moment.
The French leads 20-19

Popov showing strong nerves as he takes five points on the trot to reduce the deficit to three. Score: 19-16, Sen in the lead.

Lakshya Sen edges closer to set point. Can the French script a comeback or will the Indian take home the game?
Score: 19-11

It's turning out to be a one-sided affair as the Indian takes a massive 9 points lead.
Score: 15-6, Popov trailing

The players head for a short breather.
Score:11-4, Sen in the lead

Sen living upto his loft standard as he is currently schooling the French opponent. The Indian leads 10-4

Lakshya Sen extends his lead to six points.
Score: 7-1

The Indian with a strong start to the match as he takes a 4 point lead.
Score: 4-0

And we are underway as Sen takes the first point of the match.

Next up, we have Lakshya Sen take on Popov Toma

And it's over as the Indian pair succumbs to a crushing defeat in straight sets.
Final score: (A.George/S.Shukla) lost to (Gicquel T. / Labar R.) 10-21,12-21

Game point for France. Looks like there's no coming back for India as a loss in this game would imply an overall French victory.
Score: 20-12

The French duo looking confident of a win now as they edge closer to set and match point.
Score: 18-11, in favour of the French pair

The French duo gradually establishing a solid lead. They currently are ahead by 5 points with the scores reading 15-10 in France's favour.

The players head for a breather with Shukla and George trailing at 8-11.

The Indian pair showing strong nerves as they reduce the lead to two points. Score: 7-9, India trailing.

The French once again looking to exert their dominion early in the game as they lead 7-4.

The Indian pair has started strong in the second set.
Score: 2-2

Set 2 underway!

It has been a one-sided affair so far as the French duo seals the first set comfortably at 21-10!

And the French team race towards set point. They have taken an unassailable 10 point lead with the scoreline reading 19-9 in favour of the French pair.

Gicquel T. / Labar R makes a strong return after the break as they take two points on the trot to extend their lead to seven.
India trailing 8-15.

France with a 6 point lead as the players head for a breather.
Score: 11-5