Kunlavut Vitidsarn began his title defence with an impressive first round victory at the US$850,000 BWF India Open in New Delhi yesterday.
World champion Kunlavut, who is seeded seventh this week, defeated Magnus Johannesen of Denmark 21-12, 21-16 in the World Tour Super 750 event.
Seventh seed Kunlavut will play either Srikanth Kidambi of India or Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong in the last 16 today.
Earlier, mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai booked their berth in the last 16 after beating fellow Thais Supak Jomkoh and Supissara Paewsampran 21-9, 26-24.
They will play Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei of Malaysia in the last 16.
Women's doubles stars Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajonghai survived a tough test against Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnaappa as they edged the Indian pair 21-5, 18-21, 21-12.
They will play Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara of Japan in the last 16.
Women's singles hope Ratchanok Intanon bowed out in the first round after losing to world No.1 An Se-Young of South Korea in three games. In her second tournament back after a long injury lay-off, the 28-year-old Thai star took the first game 21-16 but found the in-form An too much to handle and dropped the second and third 13-21, 16-21.
It was another early exit for Ratchanok, who lost in the second round at the season-opening Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur last week.
Ratchanok was out of action for nearly three months at the end of last year.
Compatriot Busanan Ongbamrungphan made it through after she beat Yvonne Li of Germany 21-10, 21-13. She will meet Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, who defeated Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt 26-24, 21-13 in the last 16.