Kunlavut Vitidsarn and mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Supissara Paewsampran advanced to the last 16 of the US$500,000 BWF Kumamoto Masters Japan 2026 on Wednesday.
Men’s world No.3 Kunlavut took 47 minutes to defeat Magnus Johannesen of Denmark 21-18, 21-19. He will face South Korea’s Yoo Tae-Bin in the last 16 of the Super 500 event on Thursday.
Mixed doubles holders Dechapol and Supissara began their title defence with a 21-15, 21-17 win over Yu Zhirui Jerry and Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong.
The second-seeded pair, who defeated France’s Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue in last year’s final, will face Japan’s Akira Koga and Natsu Saito next.
Meanwhile, women’s singles players Pornpawee Chochuwong and Supanida Katethong both won their first round matches on Wednesday.
Sixth seed Pornpawee survived a test against Wong Ling Ching as she rallied to beat the Malaysian in three games, 17-21, 21-4, 21-13.
Supanida had a much easier workout as she defeated Huang Yu-hsun of Taiwan 21-19, 21-7 in 33 minutes.
Thai players failed to advance in the remaining doubles competitions.
Mixed doubles pair Pakkapon Teeraratsakul/Sapsiree Taerattanachai lost to Liu Kuang-heng and Hsu Yin-hui of Taiwan 21-23, 16-21, while women’s doubles players Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn/Sabrina Sophita Wedler and men’s doubles duo Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul also exited the tournament on Wednesday.
Defending women’s champion Ratchanok Intanon was scheduled to face Nodoka Sunakawa of Japan in a late match, while Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul, the second Thai in the men’s singles field, was due to face last year’s winner Kodai Naraoka of Japan.