Lu Kai and partner Huang Yaqiong were among those to progress in Tokyo ©Getty Images

China's top seeds Lu Kai and Huang Yaqiong were among the pairs to progress as mixed doubles action began the Badminton World Federation Japan Open today.

The Asian champions ousted Malaysia's Chan Peng Soon and Cheah Yee See to reach round two at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

Chan won Olympic silver at Rio 2016 alongside Goh Liu Ying but was beaten today 21-17, 21-17.

The Chinese pair will now be confident of the title after their second-seeded compatriots Zhang Nan and Li Yinhui withdrew.

Zhang won bronze at Rio 2016 with Zhao Yunlei and also won gold in the Brazilian city in the men's doubles, partnering Fu Haifeng.

That was his second Olympic title after mixed gold with Zhao at London 2012, but he will play no part in Tokyo.

England's third seeds Chris and Gabrielle Adcock were knocked out ©Getty Images
England's third seeds Chris and Gabrielle Adcock were knocked out ©Getty Images

England's third seeds Chris and Gabrielle Adcock had a day to forget as they were knocked out.

The husband and wife duo, bronze medallists at last month's World Championships in Glasgow, fell 24-22, 21-14 to Chinese Taipei's Lee Yang and Hsu Ya-ching.

Home duo Yugo Kobayashi and Misaki Matsutomo also sealed a place in round two where they will meet the top seeds.

They beat Kim Jae-hwan and Lee So-hee of South Korea in three, 21-15, 19-21, 21-16.

Qualifying action took place across the other singles and doubles events at the Super Series competition today, before the main draw begins tomorrow.