Star-studded Chinese badminton team clinched victories in both men's and women's team competitions at the Doha Asian Games on Thursday.

Spearheaded by World No. 1 Lin Dan, the Chinese men's team swept past the all-amateur squad of India 5-0. However, 

"He played in a strange way," said Lin who finished the second game 21-11. "I even wanted to give up the first game at 19-19."

Top-seeded Zhang Ning was the only one who lost a game while the Chinese women's team overplaying Malaysia 5-0.

Athens Olympic champion Zhang had never lost to Wong Mew Choo from Malaysia and the 31-year-old thought she had never lost a set to the gritty rival in their previous encounters.

In the first set, Zhang took a 5-3 lead but then lost six points in a row. In spite of striving for a tie at 19-19, Zhang lost the game 19-21.

After winning the following two sets 21-18 and 21-18, an unsatisfied Zhang said, "I don't know what's wrong with me. I just felt I moved too slowly on the court while my rival is a good runner indeed."

In women's team competition, both Japan and Thailand came from two matches behind to upset South Korea and Hong Kong, China, respectively.

After being defeated by China, India failed to topple another powerhouse Indonesia, losing 0-5. Indonesian star Taufik Hidayat edged Anup Sridhar 23-21, 21-16, saying, "I think it's not a good game, but it's just the first round. I had to win. Today I played like it was training."

Japan lost to Malaysia 0-5 in the morning, but overcame Hong Kong, China, 5-0 in the evening.

Vietnam was defeated by South Korea and Thailand.

(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2006)