Chinese shuttler He Bingjiao.
Credit: Reuters File Photo
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 and Wang Chang drilling through their opponents.
He beat Keisha Azzahra of Azerbaijan 21-8 21-7 in under half an hour, while Liang and Wang made quick work of Canada's Adam Dong and Nyl Yakura, beating them 21-5 21-12.
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China has 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," He 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."
He's 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 Wang's delicate, strategically placed serves followed up with hefty smashes from Liang.
Later in the day, French men's doubles pair Ronan Labar and Lucas Corvée take on world number three team Chirag Chandrashekhar Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy of India, thought by some to be their country's best chance of Olympic gold at Paris.
Men's singles number three, Indonesia's Jonatan Christie, will also be on the court, as will number eight Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand.