KUALA LUMPUR: Former world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei is at it again, one month after his shocking first round exit at the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
On Wednesday, the 35-year-old, fought hard against Hong Kong's Vincent Wong before carving out a 21-15, 16-21, 21-17 win to reach the second round of the Japan Open Super Series in Tokyo.
Chong Wei, who is now ranked No. 7 in the world, will play Indonesia's Tommy Sugiarto next.
The Japan Open is definitely one of Chong Wei's favourite tournaments after the Malaysia Open.
Last year, the Malaysian bounced back from his Rio Olympic Games disappointment, by clinching his sixth crown at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
In the women's singles, Soniia Cheah also did well to reach the second round following a convincing 21-13, 21-18 win over Taiwan's Lee Chia Hsin.
Soniia, who recently settled for the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games (KL2017) silver medal, will play eighth seeded American Zhang Beiwen next.
"It wasn't easy, because this is the Super Series and it is never easy," said Soniia, when contacted.
"I must say that my confidence level has dropped terribly since my injury in 2013. Now, my coach (Tey Seu Bock) is trying to build me up again. I owe it to him.
"Beiwen is a tough opponent, but I will give my best tomorrow," added Soniia, who wants to break into the world top 20 this year.
Also through to the second round of the competition were men's doubles Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi.
The Malaysian pair, who are set to split after this (to pair with 2016 Rio Games silver medallists Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong instead) saw off Thailand's Supak Jomkoh-Pakin Kunaanuvit 21-17, 18-21, 21-15 and will play eighth seeds Lee Jhe Hui-Lee Yang of Taiwan next for a place in the quarter-finals.
In the women's doubles, national No. 2 Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean failed to impress as they went down tamely 21-9, 21-12 to Japan's Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota.