Thailand’s Phittayaporn Chaiwan defeated Taiwan’s Pai Yu-po 21-18, 21-13 in the opening round of the BWF World Championships in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Phittayaporn, 21, will face compatriot and eighth seed Ratchanok Intanon in the women’s singles second round (last 32) on Wednesday.
Ratchanok, 27, is seeking her second world title following her success in 2013.
In the men’s singles, Thailand’s Sitthikom Thammasin beat Malaysia’s Ng Tze Yong 21-9, 10-21, 21-19 to reach the third round.
He will next meet Denmark’s world No.1 Viktor Axelsen, who finished off Mark Caljouw of the Netherlands 21-19, 21-10.
China’s Shi Yuqi, who is returning from a 10-month ban imposed by…
