NAYPYITAW, Dec 10 — The badminton competition of the Myanmar SEA Games got underway at the Wunna Theikdi C Indoor Stadium here today with the Malaysian shuttlers in action seeing contrasting fortunes.

Malaysia's main gold medal hope in the men's singles Chong Wei Feng had the ignominy of being booted out by Thailand's Avihingsanon Suppanyu.

Avihingsanon showed him the door in straight sets of 21-19, 21-14.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, he admitted making many mistakes leaving his opponent to have the upperhand.

"When I get back home, I will have to step up my training further to face the new season," he said, adding that his lack of fitness also contributed to the defeat.

Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, who was recently promoted to the national elite squad, however, made up for the disappointment when he made short work of Vietnam's Hoang Nam Nguyen for a 21-12, 21-10 victory in another men's singles match.

"I did not expect Wei Feng to lose as he is the main medal prospect. Nonetheless, I am ready for the task," he said.

He will be meeting Prasetyo Wisnu Yuli of Indonesia in the quarter-finals next. Prasetyo  booked his berth after recording a 21-5, 21-9 victory over Phorrom Cheng of Cambodia in the first round.

Malaysia's men's doubles pairs Lim Khim Wah/Ow Yao Han and Goh V Shem/Teo Kok Siang also had no problems advancing.

Lim/Ow easily overcame Laotion pair D.Bounphasone/F. Phakornkham in 21-11,21-7 while Goh/ Teo defeated Vivas Paul Jefferson/M. Peter Gabriel of the Philippines in 21-12 and 21-19.

It was the same for the Malaysian women's doubles.

The pair of Lee Meng Yean/Lim Yin Loo defeated Laos' B. Lomany/ V. Phonephan 21-13, 21-14 while Vivian Hoo Kah Mun/Woon Khe Wei downed Thai pair Lam Narissapat/Amitrapai Savitree in 21-10,21-15.

Lim later paired up with Ong Jian Guo in the mixed doubles to notch a 21-17, 21-16 victory over the Laotian pair of F. Phakornkham/L. Bouphakesone while compatriots Tan Aik Quan/ Lai Pei Jing (MAS) defeated Myanmar pair Aung Than Lwin/Zan Phu Pwint 21-12, 21-8.

However, in the women's singles, only Yang Li Lian made it to the quarterfinals while compatriot Chiew Sien Lim was shown the exit. 

Yang beat Laos' M. Manivone 21-5, 21-12 while Chiew lost 10-21,12-21 to O. Busanan of Thailand.

Based on the competition format, the winners of the first round go straight to the quarter-finals. — Bernama