PARIS: China's shuttlers got off to a fast start as the badminton competition opened at the Paris Games on Saturday, with women's world number six He Bingjiao and top-ranked men's doubles duo Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang drilling through their opponents.
She defeated Keisha Azzahra of Azerbaijan 21-8 21-7 in under half an hour, while Weikeng-Chang made quick work of Canada's Adam Dong-Nyl Yakura, beating them 21-5 21-12.
China have won 47 medals since badminton became an Olympic sport in 1992 - more than double the combined tally of Indonesia and South Korea, the second and third most successful teams.
"I played in a very good environment and my competitor was very good as well," Bingjiao told reporters.
"This is everyone's dream, to get into a final. I'm not very high up yet, but I'll work hard and do my best to get there."
Her compatriot Chen Yufei is the defending Olympic women's singles gold medallist.
The Chinese men's doubles pair dovetailed well together, swapping positions with each other and finding success with Weikeng's delicate, strategically placed serves followed up with hefty smashes from Chang. - Reuters