Anders Antonsen beat Lucas Corvee as Denmark won their opener ©Getty Images

Hosts and defending champions Denmark began the European Mixed Team Badminton Championships with a 4-1 victory over France at Frederiksberg Hallerne.

The Danes won the first three matches to make the victory safe in the best-of-five format, before the French got themselves on the board.

Denmark had the final say, however, to ensure they ended the tournament's first day on a positive note.

In men's singles, Anders Antonsen beat Lucas Corvee 21-15, 21-16 to get the hosts off to a good start.

Line Højmark Kjærsfeldt then met LeOnice Huet in the women's singles and breezed home, 21-12, 21-8.

In men's doubles action Frederik Søgaard and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen recorded another Danish win, seeing off Thom Gicquel and Ronan Labar 21-17, 21-18 to seal the tie.

The women's doubles saw France on the board as Emilie Lefel and Anne Tran saw off Maiken Fruergaard and Rikkie Søby 23-21, 15-21, 22-20.

In the mixed doubles Mathias Christiansen and Christina Pedersen beat Gicquel and Delphine Delrue 21-9, 21-9.

Line Højmark Kjærsfeldt was another home winner for Denmark ©Getty Images
Line Højmark Kjærsfeldt was another home winner for Denmark ©Getty Images

Elsewhere in the group, The Netherlands beat Spain 3-2.

In Group Two, 2017 runners-up Russia began with a 3-2 victory over England.

Germany beat Ireland 4-1.

The best two teams in each group will reach the semi-finals.

Tomorrow will see Denmark play The Netherlands in Group One and France meet Spain.

In Group Two, England will lock horns with Ireland as Russia collide with Germany.

The Pan American Mixed Team Championships will begin tomorrow in Peru's capital Lima.