Saina Nehwal & Co close in on quarters

Saina Nehwal guided the Indian women’s team to a 5-0 rout over Germany to stay on course for a knockout berth in the Uber Cup, but the men’s team suffered a narrow 2-3 defeat against Hong Kong and face an early exit in the Thomas Cup in Kunshan, China, on Tuesday.

Ajay Jayaram lost the opening singles and Rio-bound pair of Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy and young combo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also faltered in their respective doubles matches.

B. Sai Praneeth and Sourabh Verma though restored some pride with thrilling victories in the second and third singles.

Later in the day, Saina and P.V. Sindhu enthralled spectators with straight-game wins in their singles ties before Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa eked out a win in the first women’s doubles, giving Indian an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Starting the proceedings, London Olympic bronze medallist Saina thrashed Fabienne Deprez 21-15 21-10, while world no. 10 Sindhu brushed aside Luise Heim 21-7, 21-12.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallists pair Jwala and Ashwini prevailed over Linda Efler and Lara Kaepplein 14-21, 21-9, 21-8 as India took a 3-0 advantage.

The last two matches were inconsequential. India take on the 2014 runners-up Japan on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Lee Chong Wei’s Malaysian squad survived a nail-biting showdown with Asian rivals South Korea at the Thomas Cup, after the national women’s team crashed out in a tight clash with Denmark.