KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler S. Kisona, who struggled earlier this year, has gotten off to a bright start in the Spanish International on Thursday.
The reigning Sea Games champion beat Switzerland's Nadia Fankhauser 21-15, 21-10 in the first round at the Camilo Cano Sports Centre in Alicante.
The result was a marked improvement for the World No 61 who had some disappointments early this year.
Kisona suffered early exits at the Yonex Thailand Open and Toyota Thailand Open, and was whipped by Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the first round of the All England in March.
This led to BAM withdrawing Kisona from the Orleans Masters in Paris and the Spain Masters, and focus on her training.
It looks to be paying off with the fourth seeded Kisona progressing to face Spain's Lucia Rodriguez, who defeated England's Georgina Bland 21-16, 21-12, for a place in the quarter-finals.
Also getting off to a winning start was former world junior champion Goh Jin Wei, who needed just 19 minutes to thump Spain's Ana Ramirez 21-5, 21-7 in the first round.
It is a good sign for the 21-year-old, who has slumped from a once high ranking of World No 25 to No 128 after struggling with injuries over the past year. The Penangite goes on to meet England's Abigail Holden in the second round.
Malaysia's World No 156 Eoon Qi Xuan also grabbed a first round win by beating England's Freya Redfearn 21-9, 21-15, and will meet third seed Marie Batomene of France next.
Backup mixed doubles Tee Kai Wun-Teoh Mei Xing also cleared their first round by beating Bulgaria's Iliyan Stoynov-Hristomira Popovska 21-13, 21-17.
Earlier in the qualifiers, former national champion Misbun Ramdan Misbun earned a spot in the main draw after beating Germany's Brian Holtschke 21-10, 21-13.