NEW DELHI, Oct 6: Even without its star player Saina Nehwal, India took another step towards its goal of reaching its first badminton team final when a 5-0 win over Wales ensured they would qualify from their group.

Nehwal, the first Indian woman to win a Super series title, was rested as the home country achieved its third clean sweep in three matches, guaranteeing a place in the quarter-finals.

She was replaced by Aditi Mutatkar, the world number 32 from Gwalior, who enjoyed a 23rd birthday with a satisfying straight games win over the Welsh national champion Carissa Turner.

There was a second appearance in these Games for Chetan Buradagunta, a 20-year-old from Andhra Pradesh, who won 21-12, 21-16 in the men’s singles slot against Martyn Lewis.

India’s winning 3-0 lead was completed in the men’s doubles by Sanave Arattukulam and Rupesh Kallyad, who said: “Today we were good. We have played both the last two matches well.”

Kallyad added confidently: “We are set for the next few matches.” If he is right, India will certainly be justifying its second seeding position.

Nehwal may make another appearance in the evening session, when India take on Scotland to decide who finishes top of the group and gets a potentially more comfortable quarter-final draw.

The Scots similarly scored their third success, a 5-0 win over Kenya.

A victory for India here would probably mean avoiding England, the 2002 gold medal winners and the third seeds.

England ensured their place in the quarter-finals with a man who has three times been to a Delhi dentist for route canal treatment, and may need to go again.

That is Anthony Clark, twice a former world silver medallist in doubles events, who won with Chris Adcock in the men’s doubles spot during a 5-0 win over Mauritius.

Results:

Group ‘A’: Malaysia bt Australia 5-0; Nigeria bt Seychelles 3-2.

Group ‘C’: Canada bt Falkland Islands 5-0; England bt Mauritius 5-0.

Group ‘D’: India bt Wales 5-0; Scotland bt Kenya 5-0.—AFP