The Taiwanese player was handed a tricky first round assignment at the Badminton World Federation World Tour Super 1000 event, with Nehwal a former world number one.

Tai dealt with her opponent’s threat in impressive style, claiming a 21-14, 21-18 victory to progress.

She is now due to face Thailand’s Busanan Ongbumrungpan in the second round after 21-year-old beat Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour 21-15, 21-19.

While Nehwal suffered opening day disappointment, her compatriot PV Sindhu advanced.

The Olympic silver medallist was forced to come from behind against Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong before clinching a 20-22, 21-17, 21-9 victory.

Sindhu is now scheduled to face the challenge of Thailand’s Nitchaon Jindapol in the second round.

Second seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan brushed aside Taiwan’s Lee Chia-hsin 21-10, 21-14 in her first round match.

The biggest casualty in the women’s singles draw was Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon as the third seed lost 21-15, 14-21, 21-19 to Canada’s Michelle Li.

The withdrawal of Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen from the men’s singles draw due to injury offered the chance for India’s Srikanth Kidambi to become world number one - should he win the tournament.

Srikanth’s previous record at the tournament has proved less than illustrious, with three first round and one second round defeat in his four appearances.

The Indian appeared on course for another early exit when he lost the opening game of his match against France’s Brice Leverdez 21-7.

A strong response from the third seed saw him force a deciding game before he edged out Leverdez to claim a narrow 7-21, 21-14, 22-20 win.

He will face the winners of the match between England’s Rajiv Ouseph and China’s Huang Yuxiang in the second round.

Two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan was also among the winners, the Chinese veteran beating Denmark’s Hans-Kristian Vittinghus 21-19, 21-16.

The Beijing 2008 and London 2012 gold medallist is set to face Taiwan’s Wang Tzu-wei in the second round.