Bangkok: Badminton world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen led Denmark’s Thomas Cup 5-0 demolition of Algeria on Monday, as Japan’s women also breezed past Canada without dropping a set.
Axelsen was in unforgiving form, losing just 12 points in a 16-minute destruction (21-4, 21-8) of Youcef Sabri Medel to begin the rout of Algeria.
Anders Antonsen dispatched Mohammad Abderrahime Belarbi 21-5, 21-9 in the second singles match, while Denmark’s doubles pairs also blitzed their unfancied rivals.
Elsewhere in Group D, Malaysia steamrollered Russia 5-0 with Lee Chong Wei setting the tone in the first game during a 21-9, 21-6 win against Vladimir Malkov.
Nozomi Okuhura got Japan’s women off to another flyer, beating Canada’s Michelle Li 21-16, 21-17, and helping her country prevail 5-0 for the second day in a row.
Japan’s women are tipped to unseat China at this year’s Uber Cup, with a strong singles and doubles line-up.
But China, who have relinquished the cup only once in the past 10 tournaments, made a strong start to their defence, dominating France 5-0.
Olympic champion Liu Xueri made a successful 21-9, 21-13 return from a knee injury against Katia Normand.
