Hot favorites China carried made a flying start in its quest to regain the Thomas Cup badminton title after registering a thumping 5-0 victory over France for a second straight group win on Monday. 

Chinese badminton legend Lin Dan spearheaded the challenge along with his fellow Olympic champion Chen Long as the mighty side scripted the lopsided win, a day after steamrolling Australia 5-0 in Bangkok, Thailand. 

With Lin being at the fulcrum of the force majeure, China has won the tournament in five of the last seven editions.

However, it was World No. 5 and Rio Olympics gold medalist Chen Long who helped his side to get off to a flying start after winning the opening match against Brice Leverdez 21-17, 21-5. Liu Cheng and Zhang Nan won the doubles to make it 2-0 before 22-year-old Shi Yuqi extended the lead to 3-0 overall. China had already won the tie but according to the rules, the contesting teams have to play all the five matches. Therefore, the doubles team of Liu Yuchen and Li Junhui had to play the 4th match and like their other compatriots, they defeated their French opponents with ease to extend an unassailable 4-0 lead. 

The fifth and the final match was the debut tie of 35-year-old Lin Dan and the legend made no mistake to make his team 5-0 breezing past his rival Arnaud Merkle 21-13, 21-17 in just 44 minutes with ease. The second successive win in as many Group A matches guided China to the final eight.

Meanwhile, South Korea remained atop its group after beating Canada 4-1 and defending champion Denmark, led by world champion Viktor Axelsen, outclassed the first-time qualifier Algeria 5-0. Elsewhere, Malaysia and their legend Lee Chong Wei swept Russia 5-0 without dropping a game.

In Uber Cup, top-seeded Japan collected its second group win after whitewashing Canada 5-0. India made amends for its opening loss to Canada by beating Australia 4-1. In another group containing the sport's three powerhouses - China, Indonesia, Malaysia - defending champion China opened its campaign by defeating first-time qualifier France 5-0. Li Xuerui, the London Olympic champion who tore knee ligaments in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic semifinals, played in her first major event since then and won her singles for China. Indonesia edged Malaysia 3-2.

(With input from AP)