NEW DELHI: China kept world champion Lin Dan on the sidelines as they cruised into the quarter-finals of the men’s Thomas Cup in New Delhi yesterday soon after the women had made the grade in the Uber Cup.
The Chinese men, aiming for a record sixth successive title in badminton’s premier team championships, overpowered Russia 5-0 to record their second win in group D.
Lin, who had played the third singles in the 5-0 rout of France on Sunday, made way for Tian Houwei, who whipped Anatoliy Yartsev in straight games to fashion his side’s easy win. The Chinese women, seeking their eighth Uber Cup title in the last nine competitions since 1998, moved into the knock-out rounds with a 5-0 drubbing of England.
It was the second successive win for the favourites, who boast the world’s top three women’s players in their ranks, having beaten Russia by a similar margin on Sunday.
England will join China in the quarter-finals from group W if they beat winless Russia in their last preliminary match on Wednesday. South Korea’s men, runners-up to China in the Thomas Cup final two years ago, and Malaysia booked the two quarter-final spots from group C.
The South Koreans conceded the second and third singles to India, but won both the doubles ties after Son Wan-Ho had taken the opening singles against K. Srikanth in three games.
Malaysia, who thrashed India 4-1 on Sunday, beat Germany by the same scoreline after world number one Lee Chong Wei toyed with Marc Zwiebler 21-14, 21-8 in a dominant performance.
Debutant France came from behind to stun Taiwan 3-2 and keep their hopes alive of a quarter-final spot from group D behind China. AFP
