Malaysia’s Chong Wei Feng produced a stunning upset in the first round of the China Open in Fuzhou, beating world No. 7 Son Wan-ho of South Korea 21-14, 22-20 in 48 minutes.
Top seed Chen Long also made a winning start in his bid to defend the title. He beat Tien Minh Nguyen 21-17, 21-8 on Wednesday.
Not every seed progressed. Kenichi Tago exited after losing to Gao Huan of China, while Tian Houwei, also from China, suffered an early defeat.
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. He will face Lin Dan in the second round, after Lin cruised past Taiwan’s Hsu Jen-hao 21-15, 23-21 in the first round.
Fourth seed Tommy Sugiarto also advanced, though he had to come from behind in the opening game against a resurgent Brice Leverdez before winning 21-16, 21-12. Last year’s beaten finalist Wang Zhengming overcame Takuma Ueda 21-18, 21-17. Seventh seed Hu Yun beat Hans-Kristian Vittinghus 21-17, 21-18.
Women’s Draw
All five seeds in action on Wednesday booked second-round places. 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 Wang Shixian, the 2013 runner-up, was pushed into a deciding game by Busanan Ongbumrungpan before prevailing 21-12, 14-21, 21-12. Wang Yihan and Tai Tzu-ying also progressed.
Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, who was a semi-finalist last year, lost 21-6, 21-16 to Bae Yeon-ju and is out. The biggest upset of the day in the women’s singles came when reigning world champion Carolina Marin of Spain fell 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, losing 21-23, 8-21 in 33 minutes. Malaysia’s Hoon Thien How and Tan Boon Heong also crashed out, losing 15-21, 21-18, 15-21 to fourth seeds Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa of Japan.