Winning starts for big guns

World number one Chen Long and Olympic champion Lin Dan gave China an encouraging start to the first Super Series event of 2016 as each carefully overcame tricky hurdles to reach the second round of the All-England Open.

The two stars have seven All-England titles between them, and revealed some of this vast experience in negotiating early difficulties with cold conditions by winning in straight games against ambitious younger opponents.

Chen won 21-18, 21-12 against Kent Nishikoro, a 21-year-old Japanese who led early on and was still in touch in the middle part of the second game before a little extra pace and variety from the titleholder killed off his challenge.

Lin won 21-17, 21-17 against Lee Dong Keun, a 25-year-old South Korean who turned the match into a good scrap in many long rallies, but found his legendary opponent playing a little better when it mattered.

“It’s going it to be difficult for me,” said Lin, who hopes to earn the chance to try for a record third Olympic gold medal in Rio. “There is fierce competition — and within the Chinese team as well.”

The top seed in the women’s singles, Carol-ina Marin, also found herself in early difficulties. The world and All-England champion from Spain won 25-23, 20-22, 21-15 against Bae Yeon Ju, the world number 15 from South Korea.