Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk got off to a winning start in his defence of Denmark Open title in Odense yesterday.
The world No.12 Thai defeated No.9 Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong 21-18, 15-21, 21-16 in just over an hour in the first round of the men's singles.
He will next meet either Olympic champion Chen Long of China or South Korea's Lee Hyun-Il.
Tanongsak became Thailand's first male shuttler to win a singles title at a Superseries Premier event when he triumphed in Odense last year.
In yesterday's women's singles, world No.26 Pornpawee Chochuwong beat Switzerland's Sabrina Jaquet, No.31, who retired injured after the Thai won the first two points of the encounter. She will next face South Korea's Kim Hyo-Min or Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt.