Defending champion China on a winning start for Sudirman

GLASGOW - China easily negotiated the first hurdle¹ in the defence of their Sudirman Cup badminton title on Monday, sweeping² to a 5-0 win over Thailand on the opening day of the world team tournament.

China's Cai Yun (R) and Fu Haifeng return a shot to Thailand's Tesana Panvisavas/Phattapol Ngensrisuk during their men's doubles game of the first round match of Sudirman Cup Badminton Tournament in Glasgow of England June 12, 2007. Defending China swept a 5-0 win. [Xinhua]

World champion Lin Dan scored a 21-18 21-14 success over world-ranked 48 Poompat Sapkulchananart in the hot, stuffy³ atmosphere at the Scotstoun Sports Arena⁴ and there were easy wins for China in the doubles events and women's singles.

In their second round-robin match on Tuesday, the Chinese face a battling England team who clinched⁵ a thrilling 3-2 win over Malaysia when women's doubles pair Donna Kellogg and Gail Emmms saved two match points for a 22-20 18-21 23-21 triumph.

England got off to a good start when world mixed doubles champions Nathan Robertson and Emms beat Wee Kiong Tan and Khe Wei Woon 21-10 21-12.

The Malaysians then won the men's and women's singles but in the men's doubles world silver medallists Anthony Clark and Robert Blair edged past the world-ranked number two pairing of Kien Keat Koo and Boon⁶ Heong Tan 18-21 21-16 21-16.

It all hinged on the women's doubles where Kellogg and Emms held their nerve against gallant⁷ Malaysians Pei Tty Wong and Eei Hui Chin in a match to remember.

In other action in the elite⁸ group, Indonesia's Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat earned a 21-12 24-22 win over South Korea's Park Sung-hwan but the Koreans won the tie 3-2.

Denmark beat Hong Kong 3-2 but face a stiffer task against the Indonesians on Tuesday.

The Sudirman Cup features 48 countries in six divisions with the eight elite teams in the top division battling for places in Saturday's semi-finals.

Asian countries have won all previous editions of the tournament, which dates back to 1989, with the Chinese triumphing five times.

But despite their easy win over Thailand on Monday, coach Li Yongbo, who has brought his strongest squad⁹, told reporters: "It's hard to defend the title. We have to prepare very well."