Britain’s Chris Adcock and Imogen Bankier defeated world champions Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei in the first round of the mixed doubles, to keep their qualification hopes alive, at the Victor Korea Open, Seoul.
England’s Adcock and Scotland’s Bankier, ranked no.16 in the world, won 21-19, 21-16 after coming from behind in the second game.
The Chinese pair, who defeated Adcock and Bankier in the final of the Yonex BWF World Championships at Wembley in August, took the lead before Adcock and Bankier won six points in a row to take victory in 39 minutes.
The win was their first in four against Nan and Yunlei, and will give them a boost in their bid for Olympic qualification.
They face Chinese pair He Hanbin and Bao Yixin tomorrow in the second round.
Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork, won their first game of their first-round clash with Maneepong Jongjit and Savitree Amitapai, but the Thai world no 21s hit back to take the next two games 21-17 and 21-12.
There was disappointment for World no 18s, Robert Blair and Gabby White, they were defeated by former World Champions Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Juhl of Denmark.
Adcock suffered defeat with Andrew Ellis in the men’s doubles against Denmark’s Mads Conrad-Petersen and Jonas Rasmussen.
England’s Ouseph defeated Taufik in the opening round, it was Ouseph’s first win against Taufik in three meetings, he will face Indonesian Simon Santoso in the second round.
Susan Egelstaff’s return to action ended with a 21-5, 21-6 defeat to Commonwealth champion Saina Nehwaled, Egelstaff has been out of action since injuring her knee in November.
England’s women’s doubles pair Mariana Agathangelou and Heather Olver are in action today against Japanese pair Miyuki Maeda and Noriyasu Hirata.
To follow the results go to www.tournamentsoftware.com
Holly Patel, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
