Ratchanok Intanon and mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai got off to a winning start at the US$1.5 million HSBC BWF World Tour Finals at Nimibutr Stadium on Wednesday.
Women's singles star Ratchanok picked up her first win in Group B by defeating fellow Thai Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-15, 21-13.
In the other group match, China's He Bingjiao beat Taiwan's Tai Tzu-ying 21-19, 21-19.
Ratchanok plays her second match against He on Thursday while Busanan faces Tai in a crucial clash as both players need to win to avoid an early exit from the season-ending tournament.
In Group A, Japan's Akane Yamaguchi beat title-holder An Se-Young of South Korea 21-18, 21-16 while Indonesia's Gregoria Mariska Tunjung upset Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei of China in a tough three-game duel 21-9, 14-21, 21-16.
Competing in Group B, two-time defending champions Dechapol and Sapsiree proved too strong for compatriots Supak Jomkoh and Supissara Paewsampran, winning their tussle 21-6, 25-23.
In the other Group B match, Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing of Malaysia defeated Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping of China 23-21, 14-21, 21-16.
Dechapol and Sapsiree take on Tan and Lai in their second Group B match on Thursday.
Women's doubles stars Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai also came through their opener against compatriots Benyapa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard, winning their Group A clash 21-19, 10-21, 21-12.
In Group B, Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan defeated Zhang Shuxian and Zheng Yu in an all-Chinese encounter 21-18, 17-21, 21-14 while Indonesian pair Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti defeated Tan Peerly and Thinaah Muralitharan of Malaysia 23-21, 21-19.
Jongkolphan and Rawinda play Jeong Na-Eun and Kim Hye-Jeong of South Korea while Aimsaard sisters meet Vivian Hoo and Lim Chiew Sien of Malaysia today.
In the men's singles event, Anthony Ginting rallied to beat fellow Indonesian Jonatan Christie 6-21, 21-10, 21-9 while Loh Kean Yew of Singapore beat Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan 21-15, 21-17 in Group B.
In Group A, Kodai Naraoka of Japan defeated HS Prannoy of India 21-12, 9-21, 21-17.
Thailand replaced China as host of the US$1.5 million season finale because of Covid-19.
