World number one Lee Chong Wei breezed through his first round match against Guatemala's Kevin Cordon 21-7 21-11 on the opening morning of the world badminton championships on Monday. The game was the first on court at 10 am local time at the Pierre de Coubertin Stadium and world-ranked 54 Cordon delayed the talented Malaysian for only 26 minutes.
Top seed Chong Wei could face a trickier second round clash against compatriot Muhammad Hafiz Hashim, ranked 21 in the world and All England champion in 2003. World and Olympic champion Lin Dan of China was due on court later on Monday against Iran's Ali Shahhosseini, ranked 83.
In the women's singles, Indian hopes are pinned firmly on Saina Nehwal, who has risen to two in the world rankings. She told the Badminton World Federation website (www.bwfbadminton.org/) on Monday: "Personally, I would love to be the world champion and still be world number two rather than being world number one and not be the champion."