Abhinn, Anand lead Thomas Cup challenge

India launch their campaign at the Thomas Cup qualifiers in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, on Wednesday, hoping they would be able to effect a few upsets to carry them through to the finals in China.

India opted to travel to Eindhoven instead of Melbourne, where Asia's preliminaries take place later this week, after deciding they had a better chance of qualifying for the May 9-19 finals in China.

"When we looked at the line-up of the teams, it was obvious for us it would be easier to qualify in the European venue, so we decided to come to the Netherlands instead of Melbourne," Indian coach S M Arif said.

India's decision could spell trouble for second-seeded England, who face the South Asians in their first round qualifying group, along with two other teams yet to be decided.

Although India are going to be without reigning All England champion Pulella Gopichand, who has a stress fracture in his right foot, the Indians possess enough talent to upset the English, with Abhinn Shyam Gupta and Chetan Anand taking up the challenge.

Denmark, beaten semi-finalists at the last Thomas Cup in Kuala Lumpur two years ago, begin the qualifying tournament for the most prestigious trophy in men's badminton missing star singles player Peter Gade.

But they would be bolstered by the return of former world champion Peter Rasmussen, who will end a two-year exile from top-flight badminton.