A majority of the Malaysian contingent cleared their opening-round hurdles on the first day of the Badminton Asia Championships in Manila, with Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik battling the hardest of the lot for a much needed win.

The fifth seeds had to navigate a tricky encounter against Chinese pair He Ji Ting-Zhou Hao Dong, and did not start well after losing the first game 18-21.

But Chia-Soh, who had been struggling for form this year, recovered to win the next two games 21-12, 21-18 to book a second-round berth to face Singapore’s Danny Bawa Chrisnanta-Andy Kwek.

Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin also made it through with a straight-game victory and next play South Koreans Kang Min-hyuk-Kim Won-ho, while Man Wei Chong-Kai Wun Tee also safely confirmed their passage to the second round.

Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi ensured a perfect first-round record for the Malaysian men’s doubles team as they beat Hong Kong’s Chang Tak Ching-Yeung Ming Nok 21-18, 21-17.

In the mixed doubles, Korea Open champions Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing did well to beat Kim-Jeong Na-eun 19-21, 21-8, 21-11 and next face India’s Ishaan Bhatnagar-Tanisha Crasto.

Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai had a far easier win and take on Japan’s Yuki Kaneko-Misaki Matsutomo next.

Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei also came through, but have to deal with China’s third seeds Wang Yi Lyu-Huang Dong Ping in the second round.

Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah just missed out after they lost 23-21, 12-21, 20-22 to China’s Feng Yan Zhe-Lin Fang Ling.

Meanwhile, the hopes of seeing two finalists at the recent Dutch International secure a spot at the women’s singles main draw did not materialise after Myisha Khairul, who won that title, and Siti Nurshuhaini crashed out in the qualifying stage.

Tan Zhing Yi was the sole entrée from the qualifiers after she won 21-8, 21-15 to secure a meeting with Chinese Taipei’s Wen Chi-hsu in the first round.