Mixed doubles duo Chris Langridge and Heather Olver were victorious on the opening day of the BWF World Badminton Championships in Copenhagen with Sarah Walker also progressing in the women’s singles.
Just three weeks ago Langridge and Olver had combined to good effect as they claimed silver together at the Commonwealth Games.
And with gold medallists Chris and Gabby Adcock and Scottish duo Robert Blair and Imogen Bankier gaining a bye into tomorrow’s second round, England’s number two pairing of Langridge and Olver set the early marker down at the Ballerup Super Arena.
It took them 26 minutes to complete the 21-6 21-13 win over Canadian pair Toby Ng and Alex Bruce to set up a clash against Singapore ninth seeds Danny Chrisnanta and Yu Yan Vanessa tomorrow.
There were three Brits in action in the women's singles on day one, with two-time English National champion Walker delivering an impressive victory over Malaysia’s Sannatasah Saniru.
Her opponent was ranked 14 places higher at number 70 in the world, but Walker came strong at the end to prevail 21-18,19-21, 21-12 in 56 minutes.
That earned the Essex player a rematch with Korean fifth seed Sung Ji Hyun, who beat her in the second round of last year’s World Championships in Guangzhou in their only previous meeting.
However she will not be joined in the second round by England teammate Fontaine Chapman who came up against a tough ask on her World Championships debut against Commonwealth champion Michelle Li of Canada, losing 28-26, 21-17.
While Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour also fell in the first round, losing to Germany’s Karin Schnaase 21-15, 21-15.
Kate Robertshaw's withdrawal through injury means Olver will no longer also contest the women's doubles, with a first round walkover handed to India.
While Bankier takes on Poland's Suci Rizky Andini and Tiara Rosalia Nuraidah alongside Bulgarian Petya Nedelcheva in tonight's evening session.
© Sportsbeat 2014