GLASGOW, MAY 21: India were whitewashed by New Zealand 0-5 in Group B match of third division today while China, the holders, and Indonesia, their main rivals, were rampant in beating England and Sweden respectively in their opening ties in the Sudirman Cup, the team event of the World Badminton Championships.

Both won without conceding a match and the only game China dropped was in the men's doubles, after the outcome was decided.

In the women's singles rubber of that China-England match, Ye Zhaoying, the reigning World and All-England champion, demolished Julia Mann 11-0, 11-2 in 12 minutes, seizing the first game in just three.

Sweden's defiance of Indonesia was confined to the men's singles in which Thomas Johansson, silver medallist in the European Championships three years ago, extended former World champion, Joko Suprianto, taking the first game.But Suprianto showed him no mercy in the second and third, winning them at the cost of only three and nine points.

Thailand, relegated from the first division, damaged their chance of going up against by losing their opening match against Germany from a seemingly impregnable position.

In the deciding rubber, the women's doubles, Somharuthai Jaroensiri and Thitikarnh led Karen Stechmann and Kerstin Ubben 12-8 in the final game, but could not drive home their advantage and lost without being able to claim another point.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.