KUNSHAN (China), May 16 — Lee Chong Wei came through an unexpectedly tight first game against German unknown Kai Schaefer before Malaysia reached the Thomas Cup quarter-finals with a 5-0 whitewash today.

The 33-year-old, who will target his maiden Olympic title in Rio in August, was matched nearly blow for blow in the opening game before winning 21-19, 21-15 on day two in Kunshan, China.

Lee’s teammates had an easier time with Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin beating Lars Schaenzle 21-7, 21-16, while doubles team Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong dispensed with their opponents in just 26 minutes.

The Thomas Cup is seen as a vital tune-up for Lee, who is preparing for what looks like his final realistic chance of Olympic gold after losing the last two finals to China’s Lin Dan.

With wins over England and now Germany, 2014 Thomas Cup runners-up Malaysia are already into the quarter-finals ahead of their toughest Group C tie against South Korea.

In earlier play, second seeds Denmark demolished South Africa 5-0 in their first match of the tournament.

European champion Viktor Axelsen rolled through Jacob Maliekal 21-14, 21-11, while world number five Jan O Jorgensen thrashed Cameron Coetzer 21-9, 21-9 as the Danes seek to grab their first Thomas Cup crown.

Maria Febe Kusumastut of Indonesia drops the first point against Yip Pui Yin of Hong Kong, losing 19-21, 21-12, 18-21.

In the women’s Uber Cup, Thailand routed Bulgaria 5-0, making a commanding statement before squaring off with Indonesia in their final match in group play tomorrow.

Thai starlet Ratchanok Intanon stumbled early in her match against Bulgaria’s Linda Zetchiri after dropping the first game. But the world number two found her groove, rebounding with a 17-21, 21-14, 21-15 victory.

Both competitions feature 16 teams divided into four groups, with the top two in each qualifying for the quarter-finals. — AFP

Results today

Thomas Cup (Group Stage)

Group C: Malaysia 5 Germany 0

Lee Chong Wei bt Kai Schaefer 21-19, 21-15; Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong bt Richard Domke/Fabian Holzer 21-12, 21-11; Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin bt Lars Schanenzler 21-7, 21-16; Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong bt Mark Lamsfuss/Josche Zurwonne 21-15, 21-10; Chong Wei Feng bt David Peng 21-9, 21-18

Group D: Taiwan 5 New Zealand 0

Chou Tien Chen bt Dylan Soedjasa 21-14, 21-6; Hsu Jen Hao bt Niccolo Tagle 21-7, 21-12; Wang Tzu Wei bt Asher Richardson 21-8, 21-8 ; Lee Sheng Mu/Tsai Chia Hsin bt Kevin Dennerly-Minturn/Oliver Leydon-Davis 21-13, 21-12; Chen Hung Ling/Wang Chi-Lin bt Asher Richardson/Niccolo Tagle 21-11, 21-17 

Group D: Denmark 5 South Africa 0

Viktor Axelsen bt Jacob Maliekal 21-14, 21-11; Jan O Jorgensen bt Cameron Coetzer 21-9, 21-9; Hans-Kristian Vittinghus bt Andries Malan 21-7, 21-7; Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen bt Cameron Coetzer/Jacob Maliekal 21-13, 21-16; Mads Conrad-Petersen/Mads Pieler Kolding bt Andries Malan/Willem Viljoen 21-8, 21-17

Group A: Japan 5 Mexico 0

Takuma Ueda bt Lino Munoz 21-8, 21-9; Kazumasa Sakai bt Job Castillo 21-12, 21-9; Riichi Takeshita bt Luis Ramon Garrido 21-10, 21-18; Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda bt Job Castillo/Lino Munoz 21-8, 21-6; Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi bt Lopez Andres/Luis Ramon Garrido 21-8, 21-10

Uber Cup (Group Stage)

Group C: Indonesia 3 Hong Kong 2

Maria Febe Kusumastuti lost to Yip Pui Yin 19-21, 21-12, 18-21; Anggia Shitta Awanda/Greysia Polii bt Tse Ying Suet/Yuen Sin Ying 21-10, 21-16; Fitriani Fitriani lost to Cheung Ngan Yi 16-21, 21-12, 16-21; Della Destiara Haris/Rosyita Eka Putri Sari bt Ng Tsz Yau/Yeung Nga Ting 21-16, 21-8; Hana Ramadhini bt Ng Wing Yung 21-16, 21-11

Group B: South Korea 5 Mauritius 0

Bae Yeon Ju bt Kate Foo Kune 21-8, 21-12; Kim Hyo Min bt Nicki Chan-Lam 21-9, 21-12; Lee Jang Mi bt Shania Leung 21-1, 21-3; Go Ah Ra/Yoo Hae Won bt Kate Foo Kune/Louison Yeldy Marie 21-7, 21-8; Lee So Hee/Shin Seung Chan bt  Nicki Chan-Lam/Shania Leung 21-4, 21-5

Group D: India 5 Australia 0

Saina Nehwal bt Wendy Chen Hsuan-Yu 22-20, 21-14; Pusarla V. Sindhu bt Joy Lai 21-12, 21-11; Jwala Gutta/Ashwini Ponnappa bt Wendy Chen Hsuan-Yu/Gronya Somerville 21-9, 21-15; Ruthvika Shivani Gadde bt Tiffany Ho 21-5, 21-11; Sikki Reddy Nelakurihi/Pusarla V. Sindhu bt Leanne Choo/Joy Lai 21-12, 21-12

Group C: Thailand 5 Bulgaria 0

Ratchanok Intanon bt Linda Zetchiri 17-21, 21-14, 21-15; Busanan Ongbumrungphan bt Petya Nedelcheva 21-10, 21-15; Nitchaon Jindapol bt Mariya Mitsova 21-19, 21-19; Puttita Supajirakul/Sapsiree Taerattanachai bt Gabriela Stoeva/Stefani Stoeva 21-11, 21-16; Jongkolphan Kititharakul/Rawinda Prajongjai bt Mariya Mitsova/Petya Nedelcheva 21-9, 21-9.

Fixtures for tomorrow:

Thomas Cup:

Group D: Denmark vs New Zealand – 8.30am

Group B: India vs Hong Kong – 8.30am

Group C: South Korea vs Malaysia – 1.30pm

Group D: Taiwan vs South Africa – 1.30pm

Group B: Indonesia vs Thailand – 7pm

Group C: England vs Germany – 7pm

Uber Cup:

Group A: Denmark vs Malaysia – 8.30am

Group C: Bulgaria vs Hong Kong – 8.30am

Group C: Thailand vs Indonesia – 1.30pm

Group D: India vs Germany – 1.30pm

Group A: China vs Spain – 7pm

Group D: Japan vs Australia – 7pm — Bernama