Indian shuttlers launched their Thomas and Uber Cup campaigns with resounding victories as they crushed Germany and Canada respectively on Sunday (May 8).
The women's team emerged victorious with 4-1 scoreline in Group D Uber Cup face-off while men's team were no less, who hailed 5-0 in Group C Thomas Cup encounter.
In the Uber Cup Group D match, double Olympic gold medallist P V Sindhu gave a flying start to India against Canada with a 21-17, 21-10 win over Michelle Li in 33 minutes.
Canada levelled the scores as the Indian doubles pair of Shruti Mishar and Simran Singhi lost 19-21, 12-21 to Rachel Honderich and Kristen Tsai.
But after that reverse, the Indians won all the remaining three matches. Aakarshi Kashyap beat Wen Yu Zhang 17-21, 21-18, 21-17 in women's singles.
The Indian pair of Tanisha Crasto and Treesa Jolly made it 3-1 with a 21-9, 21-15 win over Catherine Choi and Josephine Wu before Ashmita Chaliha completed the formalities with a 12-21, 21-11, 22-20 victory over Rachel Chan in women's singles.
Earlier, World Championships bronze medallist Lakshya Sen started the proceeding in the men's event with an easy 21-16, 21-13 win over world No. 64 Max Weisskirchen.
The doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty had to dig deep as they were stretched to a three gamer by Jones Ralfy Jansen and Marvin Seidel.
But the Indians managed to prevail 21-15, 10-21, 21-13 in the match lasting close to an hour.
World number 11 Kidambi Srikanth then eked out a 18-21, 21-9, 21-11 win over Kai Schafer after a sluggish start to give India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the Group C tie.
MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila handed Bjarne Geiss and Jan Colin Voelker a 25-23, 21-15 defeat in the second men's doubles tie as Indian continued its dominant display.
HS Prannoy, ranked 23rd in the world, then hardly broke a sweat as he completed a 5-0 whitewash of Germany, with a 21-9, 21-9 win over Matthias Kicklitz.
It was a perfect start for the Indian men's team, which is searching for its maiden medal at the tournament.
No Indian men's team has ever reached the semi-finals of the Thomas Cup. Last year, the men's team had signed off its campaign at the quarterfinal stage.
