Home prospects Kim Won Ho and Baek Ha Na recovered from a first-game deficit to beat Germany’s Marvin Emil Seidel and Linda Efler in an exciting opening match at the VICTOR Korea Open 2018 today.

The young Korean Mixed Doubles duo (featured image) were outplayed by the Germans in the first game after holding an 18-13 lead, but recovered to take the match to the deciding third game. It was close all the way, but after 17-all the Germans faltered and the Koreans were through, 18-21 21-8 21-18.

Another German pair, Mark Lamsfuss and Isabel Herttrich, surprised seventh seeds Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino in the opening game, before the Japanese stormed back, 17-21 21-15 21-11. Watanabe and Higashino will face Kim Won Ho and Baek Ha Na in the second round.

Top seeds Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong, who have been on a roll with four straight wins – the World Championships, the Asian Games, the DAIHATSU YONEX Japan Open and the VICTOR China Open – retired from their opening match against Hong Kong’s Chang Tak Ching and Ng Wing Yung. The Hong Kong pair were 11-4 when the Chinese retired.

Eighth seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai prevailed in three tight games against Korea’s Choi Solgyu/Shin Seung Chan, 17-21 21-15 21-16 and will face Japan’s Yuki Kaneko/Misaki Matsutomo in the second round.

Qualifiers:
Men’s Singles: Zhao Junpeng, Zhou Zeqi (China); Heo Kwang Hee (Korea), Lin Yu Hsien (Chinese Taipei)

Women’s Singles: Li Xuerui (China); Kim Ga Eun, Lee Se Yeon (both Korea); Porntip Buranaprasetsuk (Thailand)

Men’s Doubles: Choi Solgyu/Seo Seung Jae, Kim Jae Hwan/Park Kyung Hoon (both Korea); Lee Fang-Chih/Lee Fang-Jen, Chang Ko-Chi/Lu Chia Pin (both Chinese Taipei)

Mixed Doubles: Kim Young Hyuk/Seong Ah Yeong (Korea); Lee Fang-Chih/Chang Ching Hui, Lee Fang-Jen/Chang Hsin Tien (both Chinese Taipei); Supak Jomkoh/Puttita Supajirakul (Thailand)

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