LIN DAN and Xie Xingfang led China to crushing opening day victories in defense of their titles at the Thomas and Uber Cup team championships yesterday, with Malaysia also chalking an impressive win.

World No. 1 Lin barely broke a sweat in beating Nigeria’s Greg Orobosa Okuonghea 21-6, 21-11 to lead his team to a 5-0 whitewash.

Third-ranked Bao Chunlai was equally dominant, sweeping past Akeem Ogunseye 21-9, 21-3 while world No. 4 Chen Jin demolished Jimkan Bulus 21-7, 21-6.

With doubles pairings Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng and He Hanbin and Shen Ye also firing, China looked unstoppable.

China’s women players were on an equal footing in the Uber Cup, beating the United States 5-0 with Lin’s girlfriend and world No. 1 Xie whipping Eva Lee 21-10, 21-7.

Lu Lan and Zhu Lin also notched lopsided singles wins before doubles hotshots Gao Ling and Zhao Tingting and Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen rubbed salt into American wounds.

“I hope both trophies can stay in our country a bit longer,” China’s head coach Li Yongbo said. China has held the Uber Cup for 10 years and the Thomas Cup for four years.

Among the men, Indonesia is seen as their toughest challenge with the host nation facing Thailand first up.

The Thais eked out a 3-2 win over Germany with Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk winning the crucial final rubber against Marcel Reuter 21-14, 21-19.

Japan and South Korea are seen as the closest challengers to China in the Uber Cup, but Malaysia will be buoyed by a 5-0 romp over New Zealand, with world No. 10 Wong Mew Choo leading the charge.

Mew was nervy in the first set against Rachel Hindley as she struggled to read the drafts on court but knuckled down to win 21-18, 21-6.

(SD-Agencies)