Kuala Lumpur: Former champions Indonesia reached the quarter-finals of the Sudirman Cup on Monday with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over India in Group A.Indonesia have been joined by China, Japan and Denmark in the last eight.
Japan crushed Singapore 5-0 on Monday, a result that ensured Denmark also qualified from Group D as the Singaporeans were eliminated.
Indonesia will meet eight-time champions China on Tuesday to decide the Group A winner, while Japan play Denmark to decide who tops Group D.
The top two teams in each group qualify for the quarter-finals.
Indonesia team manager Rexy Mainaky, a former world and Olympic champion, tipped the Chinese to win their fifth consecutive Sudirman Cup, but believed that his team could still upset the top seeds.
"Maybe we also can beat them 5-0," Mainaky said with a laugh when told Chinese coach Li Yongbo is confident of beating Indonesia 5-0.
"We have a big squad to choose from and everything will be decided on the court."
The 1996 Atlanta Olympic men's doubles gold medallist has won all the major trophies in badminton except one-the Sudirman Cup.
China thrashed India 5-0 on Sunday, but the defending champions were given a tough workout.
Mainaky said he had expected to beat India and was pleased with his players, especially women's singles Lindaweni Fanetri, as she kept calm to defeat P. V. Sindhu 21-15, 21-10.
He admitted world number two Saina Nehwal's absence through injury from the India team made it easier for her.
Meanwhile, Kashyap Parupalli who defeated Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka 21-18, 21-14 for India's lone point said losing Nehwal had been a big blow.
"If she was in the team, I think we could have stolen a point today and that would have lifted our players' spirits," he said. - AFP
