China’s badminton teams open their 2026 Thomas & Uber Cup title defense on April 24 in Horsens, Denmark, facing Ukraine and Australia in the group stage. As reigning champions from the 2024 Chengdu edition, Shi Yuqi leads the men’s squad in what marks the start of their bid for back-to-back titles.
The 2026 Thomas & Uber Cup, officially the 34th Thomas Cup and 31st Uber Cup, began on April 24 at the Forum Horsens venue. China, having swept both gold medals in Chengdu in May 2024, enters as the top seed in both competitions. The men’s team, captained by world No. 1 Shi Yuqi, opened its campaign against Ukraine, whereas the women’s team faced Australia in the early afternoon session.
According to verified tournament records, China defeated Indonesia 3-1 in the 2024 Thomas Cup final and 3-0 in the Uber Cup final, securing its 11th men’s and 16th women’s titles. Those victories, achieved on home soil in Chengdu, established the current squad as the team to beat in Denmark.
Shi Yuqi, who played a pivotal role in the 2024 final with a straight-games win over Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, is listed as China’s first singles player for the opener against Ukraine. His presence anchors a men’s lineup that includes Li Shifeng, Lu Guangzu, and the doubles pairing of Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang.
On the women’s side, Chen Yufei, He Bingjiao, and world No. 1 Wang Zhiyi lead the singles challenge, while the defending champion doubles teams of Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian/Zheng Yu aim to replicate their dominant form from Chengdu. The women’s team opened its campaign against Australia, a side making its first appearance in the Uber Cup since 2020.
Ukraine, competing in the Thomas Cup for the first time since 2020, enters the tournament through the European qualification pathway. Australia’s Uber Cup berth came via the Oceania Confederation, marking its return to the global stage after a four-year absence.
The Forum Horsens, a multi-purpose indoor arena in eastern Jutland, is hosting the tournament for the first time. With a capacity of approximately 4,000 for badminton configurations, the venue has previously hosted Danish Superliga football matches and handball events but is new to BWF world team championships.
China’s schedule places it in Group A of the Thomas Cup alongside Denmark, Ukraine, and Canada, while the women’s team is in Group B with South Korea, Australia, and Egypt. The top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals, with matchups determined by final standings.
Live coverage of the April 24 session is available on China Central Television’s CCTV-5 channel, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Local time in Horsens (12:30 p.m. UTC). The broadcast includes commentary in Mandarin and is part of a broader rights agreement between the BWF and Chinese state media for the 2024–2026 cycle.
Historically, China has won 11 Thomas Cup titles (most recently 2024) and 16 Uber Cup titles (also most recently 2024), making it the most successful nation in both competitions. Its streak of winning both titles in consecutive editions dates back to 2004 and 2006, with the 2024 double being the first since 2018.
Shi Yuqi, now 28, has been a mainstay of China’s men’s team since his debut in 2018. A two-time world champion (2021, 2023) and Olympic bronze medalist (Tokyo 2020), he holds a career head-to-head record of 8-3 against Ginting and has won five Super 1000 titles. His leadership is seen as critical in navigating the pressures of a title defense.
The women’s team, meanwhile, relies on depth across all five disciplines. Wang Zhiyi, ranked No. 1 globally since late 2023, went undefeated in singles at the 2024 Uber Cup, while the doubles pairs combined for a 12-0 record in Chengdu. Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan, despite announcing reduced international schedules post-Paris 2024, remain committed to the team event through 2026.
Defending champions face heightened expectations, particularly in a tournament where no nation has won both cups in consecutive editions since China did so in 2014 and 2016. The last team to repeat as Uber Cup champions was China in 2016 and 2018, while the men’s side last achieved back-to-back Thomas Cup wins in 2004 and 2006.
Injury reports released prior to the tournament indicated no withdrawals from China’s initial 10-man and 10-woman squads. All players participated in a pre-tournament training camp in Guangdong in early April, focusing on adaptation to European court conditions and travel fatigue management.
The April 24 matches set the tone for China’s campaign, with both teams aiming to avoid the pitfalls that have plagued past defenses. In 2010, the men’s team lost in the semifinals despite being defending champions, and in 2022, the women’s team failed to medal after a surprise group-stage exit.
As play continues through May 3, the path to the finals remains clear: win Group A or B, survive the quarterfinals and semifinals, and reach the final weekend at Forum Horsens. The Thomas Cup final is scheduled for May 3, followed by the Uber Cup final later the same day.
For global fans, the time difference means morning viewing in North America and evening in East Asia. The BWF’s official website and app provide live scores, statistics, and streaming options where regional rights allow.
China’s pursuit of a historic double-double — winning both cups in 2024 and 2026 — begins with a single shuttlecock. If successful, it would become the first nation to achieve back-to-back Thomas and Uber Cup victories twice in the 21st century.
What’s next: China’s men face Denmark on April 25, while the women take on South Korea the same day. Updates will be available through the BWF’s official channels and Archysport’s ongoing coverage.
Have thoughts on China’s title defense or Shi Yuqi’s leadership? Share your perspective in the comments below or join the conversation on social media using #ThomasUberCup.
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