The national champion, now fully recovered from a heel injury, defeated Indonesia's Sony Dwi Kuncoro 21-16, 18-21, 21-10 in his first men’s singles match.

Zainuddin then made short work of Scotland's Alistair Casey, winning 21-7, 21-4 to set up a clash with Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting.

"This is the first time I have qualified for the main draw in a [BWF World] Superseries event," Zainuddin told the Badminton Association of Malaysia. 

"It is a new thrill and new found confidence after I beat Sony.

"I face another Indonesian in the opening match in the main draw, but I have my game plan.

"I know what to do on the court after playing two matches in the qualifying round."

Joining Zainuddin in the first round are fellow Malaysians Goh Soon Huat and Chong Yee Han, both of whom safely made it through the qualifying rounds today.

Goh beat team-mate Lim Chi Wing 21-16, 21-11 in 29 minutes to advance having earlier defeated another compatriot, Zulhelmi Zulkiffli, 21-8, 21-18.

Chong could nt hide his delight at reaching his first BWF World Superseries main draw after coming back from a set down against Japan’s Kenichi Tago to prevail 16-21, 21-10, 21-19 in a 57-minute contest. 

In his opening match, the 21-year-old defeated countryman Muhammad Hafiz Hashim 21-14, 21-17.

It was not all plain sailing for the hosts, however, as Chong Wei Feng lost 21-7, 7-21, 17-21 against Tago after 44 minutes.

Zulfadli Zulkiffli also suffered elimination after falling to a 10-21, 25-27 defeat at the hands of Indonesia's Jonatan Christie.

Bulgaria’s Petya Nedelcheva was among those to progress into the women’s singles first round after beating Malaysia’s Lee Ying Ying 16-21, 21-18, 24-22 and Chinese Taipei’s Chen Hsiao Huan 21-10, 21-10.

Another Bulgarian, Linda Zetchiri, also advanced after overcoming Indonesia’s Lyanny Ale Mainaky 21-11, 21-13 and Malaysia’s Lim Chiew Sien 14-21, 21-12, 24-22.