Ratchanok Intanon opened her Asia Championships campaign with a victory over China's Chen Xiaoxin in Wuhan, China yesterday.
The Thai world No.10, who is seeded sixth this week, won her opening match against the Swiss Open champion 21-18, 21-17 on the second day of action at Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium.
She will face Soniia Cheah of Malaysia in the second round today.
The 22-year-old Thai star is chasing her first win of the year after having failed to defend her titles in India, Malaysia and Singapore this month. She reached the quarter-finals in India and Malaysia and crashed out in the first round in Singapore.
Nitchaon Jindapol and Pornpawee Chochuwong joined Ratchanok in the round of 16 of the women's singles.
Nitchaon beat Pei Yu Po of Taiwan 21-17, 21-19 while Pornpawee defeated another Taiwanese Chiang Mei Hui 21-11, 21-16. World No.15 Nitchaon will meet third seed and world No.4 Sung Ji-Hyun of South Korea and Pornpawee will play eighth seed He Bingjiao of China in the second round.
World No.12 Busanan Ongbamrungphan, however, failed to get past her first hurdle after losing to world No.11 Chen Yufei of China 13-21, 13-21.
In the men's singles, world No.11 Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk and Khosit Phetpradab both booked their berths in the second round. Tanongsak needed three games to beat Indonesia's Zin Rei Ryan Ng while Khosit defeated Wang Tzu-wei of Taiwan 21-16, 21-14.
Eight seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai continued their good run of form, earning their place in the second round with a 21-18, 23-21 win over Indonesia's Ronald Ronald and Oktavianti Melati Daeva in their mixed doubles opener.
The pair reached their first Superseries final at the Singapore Open just over a week ago.
Bodin Isara and Savitree Amitrapai also came through their first round tie with a 21-18, 21-18 win over Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai of Malaysia.
But Nipitphon Phuangphuapet and Jongkolphan Kittitharakul lost to Choi Sol-Gyu and Chae Yoo-Jung of South Korea 24-26, 21-18, 18-21.