LEE Chong Wei eased into competition mode again after the London Olympics with a flourish while Liew Daren and Chong Wei Feng also had impressive starts in the Japan Open in Tokyo yesterday.
Chong Wei thrashed Anand Pawar of India 21-13, 21-9 in 31 minutes and will meet Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, who overcame Suppanyu Avihingsanon of Thailand 21-13, 19-21, 21-19, in the second round today.
Daren was forced to work hard for his 17-21, 21-15, 22-20 win over Sai Praneet of India and plays Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam, who defeated Frenchman Brice Leverdez 21-19, 21-19 next.
Wei Feng upset fifth seed Kenichi Tago of Japan 8-21, 21-16, 21-17 and will have a quarter-final showdown with Chong Wei if he overcomes Ajay Jayaram of India today.
Men’s doubles Tan Wee Kiong-Hoon Thien How beat Pranav Chopra-Ajay Dewalkar of India 21-16, 21-13 to set-up a second round clash with Chris Adcock-Andrew Ellis of England.
Second seeds Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, who received a bye yesterday, will play Thailand’s Patiphat Chalardchalaem-Nipitphon Puangpuapech next.
Mixed doubles Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, who also received a first round bye, will meet Japan’s Noriyasu-Miyuki Maeda today.
SELECTED 1ST ROUND RESULTS — Men’s Singles: Lee Chong Wei bt Anand Pawar (Ind) 21-13, 21-9; Liew Daren bt Sai Praneet (Ind) 17-21, 21-15, 22-20; Chong Wei Feng bt Kenichi Tago (Jpn) 8-21, 21-16, 21-17.
Doubles: Tan Wee Kiong-Hoon Thien How bt Pranav Chopra-Akshay Dewalkar (Ind) 21-16, 21-13; Chris Adcock-Andrew Ellis (Eng) bt Cheng Chung Jen-Lin Yen Jui (Tai) 21-14, 21-12.
Women’s Singles: Lydia Cheah bt Yui Hashimoto (Jpn) 21-19, 21-19; Tee Jing Yi bt Pai Hsiao Ma (Tai) 16-21, 21-14, 21-12.
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