BUSTARI Eddie started to repay the faith placed in him by the Irish badminton selectors in Prague yesterday when he helped Ireland to a 4-1 victory over Hungary in the opening match of the Thomas Cup.

Eddie beat Zsold Kocsis 15-11, 15-8, while Michael Watt and Bruce Topping also contributed singles wins for Ireland.

Topping returned with Michael O'Meara to beat Kocsis and Akos Karolyi in the doubles with the Irish conceding just three points in the match while Jyula Szalai and Richard Banhidi prevented their side from being whitewashed with a three set defeat of Graham Henderson and Watt in the last match of the day.