Japan’s Kenta Kazuno and Ayane Kurihara saw their Rio 2016 hopes dented by defeat ©Getty Images

Japan’s Kenta Kazuno and Ayane Kurihara saw their Rio 2016 Olympic hopes suffer a blow after they were eliminated in the first round of mixed doubles competition at the Badminton Asia Championships in Wuhan in China.

The duo are currently outside of the 16 qualification places for the Games and needed to produce a strong performance to improve their chances of securing a spot for the Games.

They were, however, unable to successfully negotiate their first match at the Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, as they were beaten 21-14, 21-15 by Malaysia’s Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing.

The victors will now face the challenge of China’s Liu Cheng and Bao Yixin in the second round of competition.

South Korea’s Shin Baek Cheol and Chae Yoo Jung triumphed 21-18, 18-21, 21-16 in their tie against Malaysia’s Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying, which saw the world number nine ranked team progress after a tightly-fought contest.

Singapore’s Kean Yew Loh earned two victories in the group phase to advance to the main draw of the men’s singles competition.

The 18-year-old produced a strong display in his opening match of the tournament against Uzbekistan’s Artyom Savatyugin, emerging as a 21-14, 21-11 victor.

India's Saina Nehwal will meet Indonesia qualifier Fitriani Fitriani in the first round
India's Saina Nehwal will meet Indonesia qualifier Fitriani Fitriani in the first round ©Getty Images

He was then able to follow up that triumph with a 21-10, 21-8 win over Macau’s Pang Fong Pui to book his place in the main draw, where he will meet Vietnam’s Tien Minh Nguyen.

Indonesia’s Fitriani Fitriani progressed to the first round of the women’s draw, with the top seeded player in the qualifier beating Macau’s Chan Kit Lei 21-6, 21-9.

She will now face the daunting prospect of going up against India’s Saina Nehwal, with the fifth seed due to begin the contest as the overwhelming favourite.

At the European Championships in La Roche sur Yon, France, Blagovest Kisyov set up an encounter with the defending champion Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark.

The Bulgarian claimed a 21-11, 21-13 victory over Latvia’s Niks Podosinoviks to reach the second round of the competition, with his next opponent having benefited from a bye.

Wildcard Lucas Claerbout of France will meet second seed Viktor Axelsen of Denmark following his impressive 21-18, 21-16 win over Erik Meijs of The Netherlands.

In the women’s draw, defending champion and top seed Carolina Marin will begin her campaign tomorrow, with the Spaniard due to meet Lithuania’s Akvile Stapusaityte in her first tie.