China swept over Sweden 5-0 while Denmark snatched a hard-fought 3-2 victory over South Korea in the opening heats of the Thomas Cup badminton team championship on Thursday.

　　The Chinese team, which comprises world number one Xia Xuanze, in-form youngsters Lin Dan and Zhang Jun/Zhang Wei, made no sweat to beat the Swedes as first three games were finished within 20 minutes.

　　Cheered on by local fans, Asian champion Xia was a class over Rasmus Wengberg, winning 7-0, 7-2, 7-2 in less than 15 minutes before Zhang Jun/Zhang Wei powered past Johan Holm/Joakim Andersson 3-0 (7-3, 7-3, 7-1) and world number two Lin Dan routed Daniel Eriksson 7-2, 8-7, 7-4.

　　Cheng Rui/Wang Wei lost the only game of the host team Thursday night before they knocked off Henrik Andersson/Frederik Bergstrom 7-1, 7-0, 3-7, 7-3 and Luo Yigang tamed Per-Henrik Croona 7-3, 7-4, 7-4.

　　Tension was felt in the heat between Denmark and South Korea.

　　In the thrilling first match, European Championships singles runner-up Kenneth Jonasson led the first two games over the newly- crowned All Japan Open champion Lee Hyun II 7-5, 7-0 before Lee came back strongly to take the following two games 7-4,8-6.

　　Though the South Korean left-hander saved three games points in the deciding game, it was the tall and athletic Jonasson who won the marathon fight 7-3.

　　However, the situation became up-and-down as Martin Lundgaard Hansen/Jens Eriksen lost to South Koreans Kim Dong Moon/Ha Tae Kwon, and Danish Anders Boesen was upset by Shon Seung Mo before Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen edged Lee Dong Soo/Yoo Yong Sung 3-2.

　　In the decisive match, newly-crowned European champion Peter Rasmussen looked as sharp as ever, brushing aside Park Tae Sang 3- 0 to seal the victory for Denmark.

　　Denmark's head coach Sten Petersen said: "I'm proud of my players. They won a defensive match. We didn't expect to beat South Korea. It's a big victory for us."

　　"Kenneth's victory, which boosted our confidence against the Koreans, is very important," he said.

　　The Danish team now is a step closer to its goal of reaching the semi-finals as its leading star Peter Gade was forced out of the sport's showcase event by a nagging knee injury.