New Delhi, Sept. 27 -- India were handed an easy draw in the Hangzhou Asian Games men's badminton team event on Wednesday which all but assures them of a podium finish. The third seeds, given a first round bye, will face unfancied Mongolia or Nepal in the quarter-finals. A semi-final entry guarantees a medal.

If the draw holds good, it could get tougher from there. India are likely to face top seeds Indonesia, South Korea or Malaysia in the semis. Last year's first Thomas Cup victory in Bangkok though means Indian shuttlers will go into every tie high on confidence.

The India men's team has medalled only thrice - all bronze - at the Asian Games - at Tehran 1974, New Delhi 1982 and Seoul 1986. The team comprising HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen,...