Li, a Chinese-born player who plays for Turkey, despite being based in Denmark, has risen to world number 66 in recent months largely thanks to his lightening-fast left-handed attack.

The 25-year-old used this to good effect today at the Salwa Club in Kuwait City, beating Fegerl in six Games 12-14, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8.

“It’s the first time that I have played Stefan but I was well prepared," he said.

There were comfortable victories elsewhere as Ma Long, China's top seed, beat Portugal’s João Geraldo 11-6, 11-5, 11-6, 13-11.

Third ranked compatriot Xu Xin, meanwhile, accounted for Singapore’s Li Hu 11-2, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5.

Two other Chinese players also won.

Fan Zhendong, beat Sloenia's Bojan Tokic 11-9, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9 and Olympic champion Zhang Jike was forced to six sets before defeating Serbia's Aleksandar Karakasevic 11-7, 4-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9.

Japan's seventh seed Jun Mizutani defeated Portugal's Tiago Apolonia 4-11, 11-8, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10.

Belarus' veteran Vladimir Samsonov had to dig deep to beat Frenchman Simon Gauzy 17-19, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6.

Singapore enjoyed a good day in the first round of the women's competition as Yu Mengyu and Feng Tianwei each enjoyed morale-boosting victories.

Yu beat 15th-seeded Tie Yana of Hong Kong 5-11, 11-8, 14-12, 11-6, 4-11, 6-11, 11-8 and Feng won a seven-set thriller over another adopted Turk, Hu Melek, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 13-15, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11.

Singapore's Zhou Yihan missed out, however, against Japan’s ninth seed Mima Ito, losing from two sets up and being knocked out 10-12, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9.

Action is due to continue tomorrow with second round and quarter-finals action in both singles competitions.