(Changzhou, Sept. 24) The 2008 China Badminton Masters concluded first-round competitions today with Bao Chunlai, Chen Jin and Taufik Hidayat entering the next phase.

Bao Chunlai beat Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand 2-1(22-20, 13-21, 21-10). Bao, who cut his hair after the Olympic Games, said his new appearance brought good luck. "Perhaps he felt uncomfortable with my new hair, so he lost the game,” he commented.
 
Indonesia seed Taufik Hidayat also went into the next round after a 2-1 win over Malaysia’s Muhammad Hafiz Hashim.

In other matches, Jin Chen beat Long Chen 2-0 and Indonesia’s Sony Dwi Kuncoro overcame Netherlands’ Eric Pang with the same score.

In men’s doubles, Ye Shen/Hanbin He lost to a Malaysia team Chung Chiat Khoo/Bin Shen Tan with 0-2(19-21,22-24).

On the women’s side, Japanese Open champion Yihan Wang defeated her teammate Jingjing Zhu 2-0 and Jie Yao won over Thailand’s Salakjit Ponsana 2-0. Lan Lu, Lin Zhu, Chen Wang and Rasmussen went directly to the next round without competing.

The women’s doubles and mixed doubles will start tomorrow.