BANGKOK: Japan’s women and men’s teams swept opponents on the opening day of the Thomas and Uber badminton cups on Sunday, getting the nation’s quest for both trophies off to a formidable start.

The women crushed Australia 5-0 in the morning while the men handily fended off Hong Kong 4-1.

The world’s 16 top nations compete for the men’s Thomas Cup and women’s Uber Cup every two years with matches comprising three singles and two doubles.

While China dominated the sport for years, Japan has emerged with a shot at taking home both titles at this year’s edition in Thailand.

Japan are favourites for the women’s Uber Cup event and showed why when their Nozomi Okuhara, women’s singles world champion, thrashed Australia’s Louisa Ma 21-6, 21-6 in their Group A encounter.

Doubles pair Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi then blew away Lee Yen Khoo and Ann-Louise Slee 21-3, 21-4 as the top seeds ran out comfortable winners.

Buoyed by a loyal crowd on their home turf, Thailand’s women also cruised past Germany 5-0 in Group B.

Meanwhile, Japan’s men are aiming to repeat their 2014 Thomas Cup triumph but have a tough task against the likes of traditional powerhouses China and reigning champions Denmark, who became the first non-Asian winners in 2016.

Japan are led by the former world number two Kento Momota, a 23-year-old dynamo who stunned China’s Olympic gold-medallist Chen Long to win the Asia Championships last month.

On Sunday, he surged back from an early game loss to overpower Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long Angus 15-21, 21-16, 21-15 in their opening Group C encounter.

His team-mates went on to dominate their rivals save for a final match that saw Kazumasa Sakai felled by Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu 21-15, 21-13.

China’s men routed Australia 5-0, while Indonesia and Taiwan similarly took all against Canada and Germany.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2018