Chong Wei Feng of Malaysia produced a major upset in the first round of the China Open in Fuzhou, defeating world No. 7 Son Wan-ho of South Korea 21-14, 22-20 in 48 minutes.
Top seed Chen Long began his defence of the China Open title with a comfortable win over Tien Minh Nguyen on Wednesday, winning 21-17, 21-8.
Not every Chinese player advanced. Kenichi Tago is out after losing to Gao Huan of China, while Tian Houwei of China also exited early.
Men’s singles
World No. 3 Jan O Jorgensen had no such trouble. The Dane dominated from the outset against Boonsak Ponsara and won 21-13, 21-13. Jorgensen will face Lin Dan in the second round. Lin earlier cruised past Taiwan’s Hsu Jen-hao 21-15, 23-21 in the first round.
Fourth seed Tommy Sugiarto also progressed, though he had to hold off a resurgent Brice Leverdez in the opening game. Sugiarto eventually won 21-16, 21-12. Last year’s beaten finalist Wang Zhengming overcame Takuma Ueda 21-18, 21-17 to reach the next round.
Seventh seed Hu Yun beat Hans-Kristian Vittinghus 21-17, 21-18.
Women’s singles
All five seeded women in action on Wednesday booked second-round spots.
Ratchanok Intanon began with a 21-19, 21-12 win over Hui Xuerui. Sixth seed Saina Nehwal needed three games to beat Sayaka Takahashi 21-14, 19-21, 21-17.
Second seed and 2013 runner-up Wang Shixian was taken to a deciding game by Busanan Ongbumrungpan, but the Chinese player prevailed 21-12, 14-21, 21-12. Wang Yihan and Tai Tzu-ying also advanced.
Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, who reached the semi-finals last year, is out after a 21-6, 21-16 defeat to Bae Yeon-ju.
The biggest upset of the day in the women’s singles came when reigning world champion Carolina Marin of Spain lost 14-21, 17-21 to Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-ying.
Men’s doubles
Second seeds Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan were knocked out by Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen of China, who won 23-21, 21-8 in 33 minutes.
Malaysia’s Hoon Thien How and Tan Boon Heong lost 15-21, 21-18, 15-21 to fourth seeds Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa of Japan.