New Delhi: Parupalli Kashyap made a strong start to his campaign at the $200,000 Badminton Asia Championship, thrashing Singapore’s Derek Wong Zi Liang in straight games to reach the second round in Wuhan, China, on Sunday. Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kashyap, who held a 4-2 record against his rival before the match, outplayed Derek 21-17, 21-13 in a 39-minute contest at the Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium.

The 28-year-old from Hyderabad will next take on Ya Ching Hsu of Chinese Taipei on Wednesday. Kashyap has beaten Ya twice, the last being at the India Super Series last month at the Siri Fort Complex here.It was heartbreak for the CWG silver medallist Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, who failed to cross the opening hurdle, going down 17-21, 21-15, 15-21 to Chinese Taipei pair of Yu Po Pai and Ya.