Busanan, Aimsaard sisters off to fine starts in Malaysia

World No.10 Busanan Ongbamrungphan and women’s doubles sisters Benyapa and Nuntakarn Aimsaard got off to winning starts at the Malaysia Open yesterday.

Busanan, 26, defeated Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour 21-17, 21-8 in the first round (last 32) of the Super 1000 tournament in Kuala Lumpur.

But the Thai will have a much tougher asssignment in the women’s singles second round of the US$1.25 million event as she meets top seed Akane Yamaguchi.

The Japanese received a scare before defeating Denmark’s Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt 17-21, 21-13, 21-15 in her opening match.

Busanan is the highest-ranked Thai in the women’s singles after world No.6 Ratchanok Intanon withdrew from the tournament due to injury.

In other women’s singles matches yesterday, Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung upset Chinese fifth seed He Bingjiao 21-11, 21-17.

Third seed Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan beat…