National badminton ace Lee Chong Wei was among several high-profile men's singles players who bowed out in the first round of the Perodua Malaysian Masters tournament at the Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur Sports City, Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Chong Wei, the tournament's second seed, lost to Kenta Nishimoto of Japan 21-19, 18-21, 19-21 in a closely contested match.

"I accept this defeat because this championship is not one of my priorities. I had not even planned to play here. After the Dubai Super Series Finals, I was on holiday, and did not prepare well for this tournament," he told reporters after the match.

Earlier, other world class players like Chen Long and Lin Dan of China and Son Wan Ho from South Korea also exited in the first round.

Only World number one Viktor Axelsen of Denmark advanced to the next round after a fierce battle against Lee Hyun Il of South Korea, winning in 18-21, 21-14, 21-5. 

Meanwhile, national men's singles players Lee Zii Jia and Liew Daren have advanced to the next round.

Praise is also due to women's singles player Lee Ying Ying who beat Russia's Evgeniya Kosetskaya in straight sets 21-17 and 23-21, to set up a meeting with Aya Ohori of Japan in the next round.

Speaking after her win in the qualifying round yesterday, she said her confidence level was on the rise, and she was focusing on the next match.

Goh Jin Wei also entered the next round after defeating Hanna Ramadini from Indonesia 21-15, 21-19, and is scheduled to meet Pai Yu Po from Taiwan tomorrow.

However, Lim Yin Fun and Soniia Cheah both lost in the rubber sets to the tournament's top seeds. Yin Fun lost to second seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 18-21, 21-17, 12-21 while Soniia lost to first seed Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan 21-18, 12-21, 12-21.  

Four national women's doubles teams qualified for the second round - Soong Fie Cho-Tee Yi Jing beat their opponents Liu Xuanxuan-Zhou Chaomin of China 21-16, 21-18; Lim Yin Loo-Yap Cheng Wen defeated Supisara Paewsampran-Kwanchanok Sudjaipraparat from Thailand 21-17, 21-17.

Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean knocked out fellow teammates Goh Yea Ching-Teoh Mei Xing 21-15, 21-15 and Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei beat Taiwan's Lin Xiao Min-Wu Fang Chien 21-18, 21-17

Meanwhile, the two men's doubles pairs heading to the second round are Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong who beat seventh-seeded Vladimir Ivanov-Ivan Sozonov of Russia 22-20, 22-20 while Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin beat double's pair Lim Khim Wah from Malaysia and Yoo Yeon Seong from South Korea, 21-15, 21-18.

V Shem-Wee Kiong will meet Ee Yi-Yew Sin in the next match today.

- Bernama