Thomas Cup 2014: India to play for pride against Germany

Indian badminton player Kashyap Parupalli in action against Korean badminton player Dong Keun Lee during Thomas & Uber Cup 2014 at Srirfort Indoor Stadium on May 19, 2014 in New Delhi, India.

New Delhi, May 20 (IANS) Though Indian men shuttlers have lost their chance of making the Thomas Cup quarterfinals, they will be fighting for pride in their last Group C tie against Germany Wednesday.

Both India and Germany lost their first two ties against Malaysia and South Korea, both of whom have qualified for the quarters, and are out of reckoning for the last eight. They will be playing for pride in their last group clash.

"India have three really good singles players but their doubles is their weak point. Our goal is to grab both the doubles and then win a singles. We lost against South Korea and Malaysia, so it is going to be very hard against India but we are motivated to put on a good show," said Marc Zwiebler, who will take on World No.18 Kidambi Srikanth in the first singles Wednesday.

"I have never played against Srikanth but have seen him play many times. He is quite young and has been on the circuit only for the last one year. He is a great talent and it is going to be very hard to beat him," added the 2012 European champion.

Meanwhile, after dismally losing his tournament opening clash against Malaysia's Wei Feng Chong, Parupalli Kashyap came back strongly to defeat Dong Keun Lee of Hong Kong in straight games Monday.

The India captain said they would look to end their campaign on a winning note. He will face Dieter Domke against whom the former World No.6 has an impressive 5-0 record.

"Germany played well against South Korea. But we are positive. I will be facing Dieter Domke in the second singles and I have a 100 percent record against him. We will look to get on to a positive note against Germany," said the World No.21.

The only Indian to win both his matches against Malaysia and South Korea, R.M.V. Gurusaidutt is confident they can bounce back against Germany.

"We will bounce back against Germany. We won two matches against Korea and had a chance of clinching the tie. Germany's doubles team is also equal for us, so certainly we have a chance to beat them. I am all geared up to give my best," said India's third singles player.