(*Credit image : Zimbio)
Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei – a four-time winner of the World Superseries Finals – will have less to handle in Dubai – following the eleventh hour withdrawal of reigning Olympic champion Chen Long of China due to knee injury.
It was a great start for the Malaysian former world number one when he cleared the first hurdle in Group A with an easy 21-14, 21-13 win over Hong Kong's Angus Ng Ka Long and will get an extra day's rest on Thursday.
On Friday the 35-year-old Malaysian hope will face South Korean Son Won-ho and looks good on current form after winning the Hong Kong Open last month. He beat Chen Long in the final for the title.
In Group B defending champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark also got off to a winning start when he won 21-13, 21-17 against India's K. Srikanth 21-13, 21-17.
The Indian who won four superseries titles this year but skipped the China Open and the Hong Kong Open due to injury was somewhat rusty with his movements on the court.
Women's singles defending champion Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei was taken the full distance before prevailing against China's 19-year-old Chen Yufei 15-21, 21-12, 21-17 in a 64-minute match.
India's PV.V. Sindhu -the Rio Olympics and world silver medallist battled for 64 minutes to overcome China's He Bingjiao 21-11, 16-21, 21-18 in a Group A match.
Reigning world champions Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan were at the wrong end in their opening Group A women's doubles match against compatriots Huang Yaqiong-Xu Xiaohan who won 21-14, 16-21, 21-19.
"It is always difficult to playing your compatriots.
We train together and know each other's game," Huang Yaqiong was quoted by the BWF website after the match.
In the mixed doubles Rio Olympics and world champions Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana came through a tough three-game battle against England's husband and wife team Chris Adcock-Gabrielle Adcock to win 21-18, 18-21, 21-14 in a 62-minute match.
Malaysian debutants Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing made losing start to their campaign in Dubai going down 12-21, 11-21 defeat to China's Wang Yilyu-Huang Dongping in only 36 minutes in Group B.
RESULTS (SELECTED)
MEN'S SINGLES
GROUP A
Lee Chong Wei (MAS) beat Angus Ng Ka Long (HKG) 21-14, 21-13
GROUP B
Shi Yuqi (CHN) beat Chou Tien-chen (TPE) 21-19, 21-17
Viktor Axelsen (DEN) beat K. Srikanth (IND) 21-13, 21-17
MEN'S DOUBLES
GROUP A
Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (INA) beat Mads Conrad-Petersen-Mads Piele Kolding (DEN) 21-6, 21-16
Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda (JPN) beat Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen (CHN) 21-17, 21-17
WOMEN'S SINGLES
GROUP A
P.V. Sindhu (IND) beat He Bingjiao (CHN) 21-11, 16-21, 21-18
Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) beat Sayaka Sato (JPN) 21-12, 21-19
GROUP B
Ratchanok Intanon (THA) beat Sung Ji-hyun (KOR) 21-19, 21-16
Tai Tzu Ying (TPE) beat Chen Yufei (CHN) 15-21, 21-12, 21-17
WOMEN'S DOUBLES
GROUP A
Huang Yaqiong-Yu Xiaohan (CHN) beat Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan (CHN) 21-14, 16-21, 21-19
MIXED DOUBLES
GROUP B
Wang Yilyu-Huang Dongping (CHN) beat Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (MAS) 21-12, 21-11
Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir (INA) beat Chris Adcock-Gabrielle Adcock (ENG) 21-18, 18-21, 21-14
