The Chinese Olympic champion dispatched the Czech Republic's Kristina Gavnholt 21-13, 21-17 in Copenhagen.

And the 23-year-old spoke afterwards of the stinging feeling she had from losing in front of her home crowd in Guangzhou last year.

"Losing was very sad - the World Championships is difficult for me," Li said.

"I have had a lot to overcome mentally, but now I have done that I come here with much more confidence.

Li's third round opponent in the women's singles is her compatriot Han Li, the 12th seed.

Her conqueror in last year's World Championships final, Ratchanok Intanon, looked in some trouble early on in the first set of her opening match against Beatriz Corrales.

But the world number 26 from Spain could not resist her Thai opponent's strength, losing 21,18, 21-10.

"In the first game, I was getting used to the court and to how she was playing," said the defending champion.

"In the second, I had adapted and it was easier.

"I was a little tired because I was ill and not playing recently."

Saina Nehwal, the Australian Open champion from India, beat Russian world number 44 Natalia Perminova 21-11, 21-9.

Fourteenth seed Nichaon Jindapon has crashed out of the Badminton World Championships ©Getty Images



The first seed to fall in the women's singles was Nichaon Jindapon.

The 14th seed from Thailand lost 15-21, 21-13, 21-9 to Lindaweni Fanetri, the world number 30 from Indonesia.

In the men's singles, second seed Chen Long of China made light work of Austria's Luka Wraber, winning their first round clash 21-8, 21-10.

Indonesian Tommy Sugiarto won 21-12, 21-14 over Singapore's Derek Wong, while Germany's Marc Zwiebler beat Niluka Karunaratne of Sri Lanka 21-18, 21-11.

Action continues at the Ballerup Super Arena in the Danish capital tomorrow, with the last day of play due on Sunday (August 31).

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