Gopi in second round

The three-event Asian Tour 8212; the Taipei, Japan and Korean Open 8212; became a single event this season after the Seoul event was scrapped due to the country8217;s financial problems, while the Taipei Open was merged with the Indian Open to be held in November at the request of International Badminton Federation.

Joint ninth seed Fung Permadi, Sprianto8217;s former team-mate who now represents Taiwan, became the first seeded player to fall on the first day. The 1996 Grand Prix winner bowed to Roslin Hashim of Malaysia 5-15, 11-15 after failing to keep a 4-1 lead in the first and a wide 11-4 lead in the second game.

Other ninth seeds coasted to straight forward victories except Jeroen van Dijk of the Netherlands, who needed 59 minutes to dispose of Japan8217;s Hidetaka Yamada 15-8, 12-15, 15-6.

China8217;s Chen Gang and Luo Yigang, Malaysia8217;s Ong Ewe Hock and Yong Hock Kin and Indonesia8217;s Indra Wijaya, Budi Santoso were other ninth seeds to join Dijk into the second round.