INQUIRER Sports

GUANGZHOU - Thailand and Taiwan each made it two wins out of two at the Sudirman Cup on Tuesday to keep alive their hopes of promotion to the elite group of the badminton tournament.

Taiwan, relishing the support of the crowd in Guangzhou, southern China, smashed France 4-1. Thailand won the fifth and final rubber to squeeze through 3-2 winners over Germany.

The teams go head to head in group 2A on Wednesday.

In the third tier of competition, India justified their pre-tournament tag of strong favorites to gain promotion with a 5-0 hammering of Ukraine.

Not many were at the Guangzhou Gymnasium to see the comprehensive win, but that will hardly matter to the Indian side, who won their first match here, against Australia on Monday, 4-1.

Later Tuesday, hosts and cup holders China play Japan, while also in the top group, South Korea face Denmark.

The world mixed team championships run until Sunday.