PETALING JAYA: Doubles shuttler Eloi Adam (pic) said it the best.
“It’s a good year for the French team,” said the 27-year-old after an impressive showing in the final Group D tie against Indonesia of the Thomas Cup Finals at Forum Horsens on Tuesday.
France stunned 14-time Thomas Cup champions Indonesia 4-1 and made it to the quarter-finals of the team event for the first time while their opponents endured their worst outing, exiting in the group stage for the first time.
Adam and his partner Leo Rossi did the unthinkable by beating Indonesia where it hurts most – in their doubles – with a sensational 21-19, 21-19 win against Moh Reza-Sabar Karyaman.
Earlier, their singles teammates Christo Popov had defeated Jonatan Christie 21-19, 21-14.
Alex Lanier packed off Alwi Farhan 21-16, 21-19 and Toma Junior Popov upset Anthony Ginting 22-20, 15-21, 20-22.
“Maybe it was the most important win for France. Very happy about today, like 4-0 against Indonesia, which is maybe the more iconic country in badminton. So it means a lot,” he said.
Last month, France shocked Denmark for the first time to emerge as the European Team champions.
The 27-year-old Toma Junior was proud of his team’s breakthrough.
“Leo and Eloi show that in this hall. They are capable of amazing things. They won the silver here at the European Championships in Horsens. Maybe that’s why the team put them for this men’s doubles,” said Toma Junior, who played with his brother Christo in the second doubles but lost 18-21, 21-19, 11-21 to Fajar Alfian-Mohd Shohibul.
“And I think we did the job, and we show it. Just congrats to them, and congrats to all the men singles.”
The win still had not sunk in for Christo.
“If you told me two, three, four years ago, that we beat Indonesia, it’s kind of – who’s gonna win the matches, you know?” said Christo.
“But yeah, I think today we just showed honestly what type what we are capable of as a team.
“I think we didn’t only win match by match, but we won as a team today.”
