China's men's team prevailed over France with a 5-0 victory to sail into the quarterfinal round of the premiere badminton team championships Total BWF Thomas Cup Finals 2016 on Monday at the Kunshan Sports Center in Jiangsu, China.

According to Xinhua, the current world No.3 Lin Dan, who was given a rest on the tournament's opening day, failed to make a perfect debut as the two-time Olympic champion edged out the 23-year-old world No. 81 Lucas Claerbout 20-22, 21-14, 21-8 in the second singles, which lasted an hour and eight minutes. Lin's victory gave China a 3-0 lead to get the second straight win in Group A.

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"I didn't expect to win this match in such a tough way, "the five-time world champion Lin said, "But it doesn't mean that I played badly, this match will help me to get fit and find my rhythm."

The 32-year-old Longyan, Fujian native is competing for the eighth time in the Thomas Cup and Lin wants to lead his country to win back the title, which they lost in New Delhi in India two years ago.

"This time I am the second singles, no matter which position I play, I will do my best." Lin, who was also a six-time All England Open Badminton Championships winner, said.

According to China Daily Asia, while Lin struggled in his first game of the tourney, his teammates had an easier time winning their respective matches. Incumbent world No. 1 Chen Long got the better of the 24-year-old world No. 69 Thomas Rouxel in two straight sets 21-9, 21-12 victory.

While the doubles combination Zhang Nan and Fu Haifeng and the pair Zheng Siwei and Li Junhui also won the matches in straight sets.

World No. 6 Tian Houwei then got hold of China's fifth point by beating the world No. 79 Lucas Corvee 21-17, 21-12.

TagsLin Dan, Chen Long, bwf 2016, bwf rankings, thomas & uber cup