Hosts, China, opened their campaign for the Sudirman Cup Tuesday, easing to a 5-0 victory over Sweden in a Group 1B match as all the four title favorites bagged victories.

Chen Qiqiu and Zhao Tingting, replacing the first-choice Olympic champions pair of Zhang Jun and Gao Ling, opened China's run for the mixed doubles title against Sweden's Fredrik Bergstrom and Johanna Persson, ranked 11th.

The world number four pair took the first set 15-3, but was forced to trail from the beginning of second until they managed to level at 12-12. They eventually clinched the set 15-12.

"We were met with a stiff second set. I think that was partly because of the wind, and our strategy," said Chen. "Luckily, we adjusted it in time."

Top men's singles player, Lin Dan, collected an expected win over Rasmus Wengberg, ranked 102nd in the world, 15-6, 15-8.

All-England winners, Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun, beat Henrik Andersson and Fredrik Bergstrom 15-5, 15-2 in the men's doubles, and world champions, Gao Ling and Huang Sui breezed past Elin Bergblom and Johanna Persson 15-4, 15-4.

Olympic and world champion, Zhang Ning, sealed the day's successes for China against Sweden by beating Elin Bergblom 11-7, 11-0.

Former Sudirman Cup winner, Indonesia, was met with surprisingly fierce competition from Hong Kong, China, before managing to claim a 4-1 victory.

The mixed doubles team of Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir brushed aside Hong Kong's Albertus Susanto Njoto and Li Wing Mui 15-3. 15-3.

But, Olympic men's singles champion, Taufik Hidayat, was stretched into three sets by Ng Wei. Hidayat eventually won 15-3, 13-15, 15-9.

"I was so inspired by the vocal Chinese fans who pushed me to strive for each point," Ng Wei said about his second set form.

Women's singles player Hari S Fransisca Ratnasari fell 11-8, 11-3 to Wang Chen, who, like Ng, had the home crowd advantage.

Despite the loud cheers from the Chinese supporters, Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto sealed the win for Indonesia when they beat Liu Kwok Wa and Albertus Susanto Njoto 15-6, 17-16.

In the last match of the night, Jo Novita and Gresya Polii needed 75 minutes to put away Koon Wai Chee and Li Wing Mui 15-12, 12-15, 15-5 in an already empty Capital Gymnasium.

In other match-ups, defending champions, South Korea, secured a 4-1 win over Thailand, and Denmark came from behind to outclass England 3-2.

Ra Kyung-Min and Lee Jae-Jin hammered Japan Open champions, Saralee Thoungthongkam and Sudket Prapakamol, 15-11, 15-10 in the mixed doubles category.

Thailand then launched a successful counter-attack in the men's singles' when Boonsak Ponsana survived a full-set marathon battle to oust Shon Seung-Mo 5-15, 15-8, 17-16.

But the South Koreans won the women's singles and men's doubles tie-ups in straight sets to seal their victory. Seo Yoon-Hee beat Salakjit Ponsana 13-10, 11-8 , and the men's doubles duo of Kim Dong-Moon and Ha Tae-Kwon overcame Sudket Prapakamol and Patapol Ngernsrisuk 15-2, 15-2.

Lee Kyung-Won and Lee Hyo-Jung then trounced Saralee Thoungthongkam and Sujitra Ekmongkolpaisarn in the women's doubles 15-5, 15-5.

South Korea's head coach, Kim Jong-Soo said he was still testing the Ra/Lee pairing.

"I knew Kim/Ha would have no problem but I'm still keeping watch on Ra and Lee," Kim said.

"But I'm satisfied with their performance tonight," Kim added.

Denmark's star mixed pair of Mette Schjoldager and Jens Eriksen lost their opening game to England's Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson 15-13, 15-9, but the Danes managed to collect the remaining three points in the men's and women's singles, and men's doubles.

China faces Hong Kong next, Indonesia will square up against Sweden, Denmark meets Thailand, and South Korea will do battle with England.

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2005)