India fail to qualify for
Thomas Cup finals

India's bid to qualify for the finals of the Thomas Cup badminton ended in defeat in Eindhoven, the Netherlands), on Sunday as Sweden clinched a play-off victory.

India, who had upset the form book on Friday by eliminating England from the group phase, lost the third place match 3-1 against the powerful Scandinavians.

Rasmus Wengberg had put Sweden on the way to victory with a 7-4, 1-7, 7-1, 7-1 win over Abhinn Shyam Gupta in the opening rubber.

India's doubles duo Thomas Sanave and V Diju gave their side the hope in the next match of the tie, forging into a two-game lead against George Rimarcdi and Henrik Andersson without losing a point.

Just as a levelling rubber seemed a formality however the Indians lost concentration, allowing the Swedes to fight back for a 0-7, 0-7, 8-7, 8-7, 7-1 win.

India's singles star Chetan Anand made it 2-1 in the next rubber, beating Per Henrik Croona 8-7, 7-3, 7-2 with a gutsy display but Frederik Bergstrom and Rasmus Wengberg wrapped up the win for Sweden.

In today's final to settle first place in the European qualifiers, top seeds Denmark proved too powerful for Germany, winning 3-0 with ease.

The Europe zone qualifiers for the Uber Cup are to be played later today.