Michelle Li of Canada began her Pan American Badminton Championships title defence with a victory ©Getty Images

Top seed Michelle Li of Canada began her title defence with victory against El Salvador's Katherine Sarai Lara Guzman at the Pan American Badminton Championships in Aquascalientes.

Li, who has won the tournament three times, defeated Guzman 21-11, 21-7 at Centro Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte. 

Her next opponent will be Ecuador's Maria Delia Zambrano, who won 21-18, 21-13 against Venezuela's Mendoza Daibelis.

Li's teammate Brittany Tam is hoping for her second Pan American title, getting off to a good start with a comfortable 21-4, 21-12 victory over Jamaica's Tahlia Richardson.

Brazil's Ygor Coelho de Oliveira won his opening game of the Pan American Badminton Championships ©Getty Images
Brazil's Ygor Coelho de Oliveira won his opening game of the Pan American Badminton Championships ©Getty Images

She will now face compatriot Talia Ng, a 21-11, 21-16 winner against Cuba's Taymara Oropesa Pupo.

In the men's competition, top seed and defending champion Ygor Coelho de Oliveira eased past Vinson Chiu of the United States 21-8, 21-11.

The Brazilian meets Canada's Brian Yang in the next round.