In men’s singles, Paris 2024 silver medallist Kunlavut Vitidsarn also got off to a winning start with a controlled performance against Indonesia’s Jonathan Christiewinning 21-10, 21-14.
Elsewhere in women’s singles, reigning women’s world champion Yamaguchi Akane beat her Japanese compatriot Miyazaki Tomoka 21-14, 21-17, while Pornpawee Chochuwong came through an all-Thai group match against Ratchanok Intanon — the 2013 world champion — 21-18, 14-21, 21-10.
The remaining women’s singles match saw China’s Wang Zhiyi defeat compatriot Han Yue 21-14, 21-5 to open Group B with a straight-games win.
The men’s singles programme continued with three further group-stage contests. Reigning world champion Shi Yuqi beat Li Shifeng 21-13, 23-21, while France’s Christo Popov edged Denmark’s Anders Antonsen 21-13, 12-21, 21-19 in 78 minutes. Japan’s Naraoka Kodai then closed the day’s men’s singles action with a 21-17, 21-18 win over Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien-chen.
