Indian shuttlers blanked 0-5 by the Chinese in Thomas Cup

Sendai, Japan, Apr 28 (UNI) Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Chetan Anand gave a scare to world number one Lin Dan but could not save lowly Indians from being routed 0-5 by defending champions China in the first league match of the World Team Badminton Championship for the Thomas Cup here today.

Ranked 24 in the world, Anand snatched the second game from Lin but ran out of steam in the decider to go down 8-21, 23-21, 11-21 in the first match of the tie.

Thereafter, it was roller coaster for China with all the other Indians losing in straight games.

Doubles duo of Rupesh Kumar and V Diju began the second match disastrously against Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun, but put a semblance of fight in the second, only to lose 5-21, 16-21.

National champion Anup Sridhar could not stem the downslide and went down to world number nine Chen Jin 14-21, 10-21 to concede the best of five tie.

A demoralised Thomas Kurien and Jaseel P Ismail were no match for Zheng Bo and Guo Zhendong, losing the second doubles match 6-21, 10-21.

Arvind Bhatt then had no answer to Xia Xuanze, beaten 15-21, 10-21 to complete the route.

India now have to beat Germany, the third team in Group 'A', in their last league match tomorrow to qualify for the knock-out stage.

Two teams from each group qualify for the knock-out stage.

Result: Lin Dan bt Chetan Anand 21-8, 21-23, 21-11 Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun bt Rupesh Kumar and V Diju 21-5, 21-16 Chen Jin bt Anup Sridhar 21-14, 21-10 Zheng Bo and Guo Zhendong bt Thomas Kurien and Jaseel P Ismail 21-6, 21-10 Xia Xuanze bt Arvind Bhatt 21-15, 21-10 UNI XC PDS KN1642