Weary India downed in Thomas Cup qualifiers

India's place in the finals in China is hanging in the balance after they lost 0-3 to Germany in the Thomas Cup qualifying semi-final at Eindhoven.

India, who had upset England on Friday night, looked wary against the Germans yesterday and were never in the hunt.

Bjorn Joppien had no trouble dismissing Abhinn Shyam Gupta 7-2, 7-0, 7-2 and Oliver Pongratz put his team 2-0 up with a 7-1, 7-0, 7-2 win over Chetan Anand.

That left Kristof Hopp and Thomas Tesche with the task of wrapping up victory for Germany, and the doubles duo duly obliged by beating Thomas Sanave and V Diju 7-3, 7-2, 4-7, 7-1.

The Indians now face a third-place playoff against Sweden on Sunday for a ticket to Guangzhou.

Meanwhile, top seeds Denmark and Germany booked their places in finals of Thomas Cup as both teams comfortably winning their qualifying semi-final matches.

Denmark had too much class for Sweden in a one-sided match, winning 3-0 with something to spare.

Kenneth Jonassen brushed aside Rasmus Wengberg 7-3, 7-2, 4-7, 7-1 before doubles duo Jim Laugesen and Jesper Larsen downed Henrik Andersson and Frederik Bergstrom 7-4, 7-4, 7-4.

Anders Boesen secured Denmark's place in today's final - and guaranteed them a berth at the May 9-19 finals in China - by outclassing George Rimarcdi 7-4, 7-3, 7-3.

In the women's Uber Cup, Olympic silver medallist Camilla Martin led the Danes in a 3-1 win over England while Germany upset hosts Netherlands by the same scoreline.