India began their campaign in the Sudirman Cup badminton tournament with an easy 4-1 victory over Austria, at Eindhoven, the Netherlands, on Tuesday.

India is placed in Group 3A along with Austria, Bulgaria and Wales for the March 18-24 tournament.

In the other match of the day, Bulgaria upset Wales 3-2 in spite of the latter's strong singles players, Irwansyah and Kelly Morgan.

India will face Bulgaria on Wednesday in the match to decide the group winner.

Jaseel P Ismail and B R Meenakshi gave India winning start, defeating Harald Koch and Tina Riedl 11-0, 11-8 in the mixed doubles.

But Austrian Juergen Koch shocked India's leading player Abhinn Shyam Gupta 15-10, 15-5 in the men's singles to level the score.

India No. 1 Aparna Popat ran through Simone Prutsch 11-6, 11-2 in the women's singles to put her team up 2-1.

India then wrapped up the match with both their doubles combinations winning easily.

Markose Puthenp Bristow and Rupesh Kumar got better of Juergen Koch and Harald Koch 17-14, 13-15, 15-9 in the men's match while in the women's doubles, Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurian defeated Simone Prutsch and Tina Riedl 11-3, 11-4.

India No. 1 Pulella Gopichand is leading the 13-member Indian team. The other members are: Chetan Anand, Marcose Bristow, Rupesh Kumar, Jaseel P. Ismail, Abhinn Shyam Gupta, Aparna Popat, B R Meenakshi, Jwala Gutta, Shruti Kurian, Trupti. Murgunde.

The coaches are S.M. Arif and Vimal Kumar