Huang and Yu recovered from losing the second set to triumph 21-14, 16-21, 21-19 in exactly one hour today at the Hamdan Sports Complex.

It came in a group stage format so Chen and Jia do have an opportunity to recover. 

“It’s always difficult playing your compatriots,” said Huang. 

“We train together all the time and know each other’s game. 

"We’ve had a good year; the Dubai World Superseries Finals has the best pairs in the world and winning here would be a big accomplishment.”

Chang Ye-na and Lee So-hee of South Korea defeated Japan's Shiho Tanaka and Koharu Yonemoto 21-16, 21-10 elsewhere in the group.

Another shock today came in the women's singles.

Two-time Dubai second-placed finisher Sung Ji-hyun was beaten 21-19, 21-16 by Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand,

Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei had no such problems in the men's singles as he cruised past Ng Ka-long of Hong Kong 21-14, 21-13.

The top two seeds in the men's doubles also triumphed.

Indonesia’s Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo thrashed Denmark’s Mads Conrad-Petersen and Mads Pieler Kolding 21-6 21-16.

Second seeds Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen ensured Danish success by defeating Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi of Japan 21-18, 21-14.

Action is due to continue until Sunday (December 17).