China dominant in first-day Thomas and Uber Cup match

JAKARTA, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Badminton heavyweight China has vowed to retain supremacy in the current Thomas and Uber Cups with an easy win over its challengers on Sunday.

World number one Lin Dan beat Nigeria's Greg Orobosa Okuonghea 21-6, 21-11 to lead his team to a 5-0 victory.

Bao Chunlai swept past Akeem Ogunseye 21-9, 21-3 while Chen Yu demolished Jimkan Bulus 21-7, 21-6.

With men's doubles, Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng and He Hanbin and Shen Ye also had their impressive wins.

China's women team led by Xie Xingfang beat the United States 5-0 in the Uber Cup. Lu Lan and Zhu Lin also won easily before doubles Gao Ling and Zhao Tingting and Yang Wei and Chang Jiewen defeated their American counterparts.

"China's opponents are weak today and it will take time for Chinese teams to warm up. For China's teams, they did not meet strong resistance today but Chinese girls will meet German women team tomorrow. We have to fully prepare for the match because they are tougher challengers," China's head coach Li Yongbo told reporters.

In the 24 Thomas Cup tournaments held since 1948-1949, only three nations have won the title. Indonesia is the most successful team, having won the tournament 13 times. The current cup holder, China, which did not begin to compete until the 1981-1982 series, follows Indonesia with six titles, while Malaysia has won five titles.

In the 21 Uber Cup tournament held, China is the most successful, having lifted the trophy 10 times. Japan is second, having won it five times, followed by Indonesia and the United States, each with three cups.

JAKARTA, May 11 (Xinhua) -- The Thomas and Uber Cup 2008 competitions opened here on Sunday. The following is the history of the two world major badminton championships.