The first-round casualties were top men’s singles players Lee Zii Jia and Leong Jun Hao, men’s doubles pairs Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, and Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King, as well as mixed doubles pairs Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing.

Zii Jia, seeded seventh, lost to Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka Long 21-19, 16-21, 12-21 in a 62-minute battle.

He had suffered an injury to his right ankle at the BWF World Tour Finals last December which saw him retiring in the final group match. Yesterday, he was seen limping at times after executing smashes. It was his second tournament this year, the first being last week’s Orleans Masters.

Aaron-Wooi Yik, finalists last year, were beaten by a much lower ranked Danish pair, Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard. They lost 16-21, 21-16, 18-21 in a 63-minute match.

Men’s doubles pair Yew Sin-Ee Yi were defeated by England’s Ben Lane-Sean Vendy in straight games, going down 18-21, 19-21 in 45 minutes.

Kian Meng-Pei Jing put up a good fight but lost 18-21, 20-22 in 42 minutes to Taiwan’s Chen Cheng Kuan-Hsu Yin Hui.

Jun Hao, Arif-Roy King, and Pang Ron-Su Yin were also shown the door in the first round.

Only top seeds Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Jemie Lai made it to the second round after beating Thai pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran 22-20, 9-21, 21-18.

Other Malaysians playing first round matches later today are men’s doubles pairs Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, women’s doubles duo Pearly Tan-M Thinaah, and mixed doubles pairs Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien.