Chinese seeds triumph at Asian Badminton Championships

Qingdao (China), April 18 (Xinhua-ANI): All five Chinese seeds in the women's singles won in straight sets in the first round at the Asian Badminton Championships here Wednesday.

Top seed Wang Yihan beat Eriko Hirose of Japan 21-13, 21-18, while second seeded Wang Xin cruised past Busanan Ongbumrungpan from Thailand 21-11, 21-9 in just half an hour.

The world No. 3 Wang Shixian met difficulties from Pai Hsiao Ma of Chinese Taipei, as she trailed her rival in the beginning of the first match with five points.

Wang managed to level the score 18-18 and overturned her counterpart with 24-22.

Falling behind in the early stage of the second set, Wang scored nine points in a row after the time out and beat Pai Hsiao Ma 21-14.

"I didn't do well at the beginning of both sets. I just wanted to hurry up and made some mistakes," Wang said.

Fourth seed Li Xuerui won over Hong Kong player Yip Pui Yin 21-14, 21-17, and sixth seeded Jiang Yanjiao defeated Sapsiree Taerattanachai from Thainland 21-19, 21-13. (Xinhua-ANI)