NANJING, China, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Title favourites Tai Tsu Ying of Chinese Taipei and Kento Momota of Japan here on Tuesday opened their 2018 BWF World Championships campaign with easy wins, as world No.1 Tai claimed a 21-10, 21-16 victory over Australia's Chen Hsuan Yu in women's singles actions and Momota outclassed Russia's Artem Pochtarov 21-13, 21-12 in men's.
All the seeded women's singles players received a bye in the first round and started from the second. Tai was relatively unchallenged in her first game of the tournament, storming to a win after the scores had initially been tied at 4-4. But Chen put up a fight in the second game, forcing Tai into some errors and at one stage enjoying a three-point lead. But after coming back to 11-11, the Asian champion eventually pulled clear again and nailed the win in 31 minutes.
"The match was just like I had imagined. I'm satisfied with my overall performance," the 24-year-old said.
Tai, who had swept five titles from six events this year, will take on the United States' Zhang Beiwen in the third round, who managed a 13-21, 21-18, 21-15 comeback win over Chloe Birch of England.
China's He Bingjiao, seeded 6th, also clinched a spot in the round of 16 after beating Yip Pui Yin of Hong Kong in two straight games 21-11, 21-17.
The 2014 Youth Olympic champion faced a strong fightback in the second game after an easy win in the first, and the two players traded the lead until 18-17, when He won three consecutive points to wrap up the victory.
"I played downwind in the second game and had to focus more on the control of the shuttle, so I made more mistakes," the 21-year-old said.
He Bingjiao will play Thtuy Linh Nguyen of Vietnam in the last 16, who upset Canada's 13th seed Michelle Li in the second round.
"Last year I finished in the round of 16 in Glasgow, and this time I want to go further," He said.
Fourth seed Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand survived a tough three-game battle against Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark to secure a place in the last 16. Intanon found herself in a tough spot in the second game, trailing by 19-16 after having lost the first 21-16, but the Thai found her form just in time to win four points in a row to win 22-20. With her confidence having returned, the 2013 champion then sealed the victory with an easy 21-10 win in the decisive third game.
Intanon now takes on tenth seed Saina Nehwal of India, who defeated Turkey's Aliye Demirbag 21-17, 21-8.
Elsewhere, two-time title winner and 7th seed Carolina Marin eased past Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-9, 21-8 to advance.
In men's singles actions, Momota dominated the majority of the match against Pochtaro. The Japanese showed his brilliant technique and quick footwork, and above all, his sharpness in front of the net. Pochtarov tried to challenge the world no.7 with his thunderous smashes, but his hasty attacks cost him several precious points, especially in the second game when he was 5-3 down.
"The first match was an easy win. I feel very good now. [I] hope I can win all the matches; I want to win," the 22-year-old said afterwards.
Returning from a 15-month ban, Momota has been in great form this year. He was crowned champion at the 2018 Asia Championships in Wuhan after triumphing over four top 10 players including Shi Yuqi, Chou Tien Chen, Lee Chong Wei and Chen Long.
"I don't take the attention at home and abroad as pressure but instead [I treat it as] motivation," Momota said, attributing his achievements to the training with the Japanese national team.
Momota is now hoping to make history and become the first Japanese player to win the World Championships.
In the mixed doubles side of the day, title favourites and top seeds Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong of China eliminated Evgenij Dremin and Evgenia Dimova of Russia 21-13, 21-10, and what cheered the home fans most in the day was that all the other three home pairs had also managed to reach the second round.
