Saina Nehwal and Sayali Gokhale pulled off major upsets, grounding heavyweights Sutheaswari Mudukasan and Ana Rice respectively in the women's singles to give a rousing start to India's campaign in Philippines Open badminton championship.
Chetan Anand, Arvind Bhat, Anup Sridhar, Anand Pawar and P Kashyap also enjoyed a winning start, cruising through to the second round of men's singles draw of the four-star event at Pasig City.
India's top shuttler in women's singles charts, Saina lived to her billing and put it across Malaysia's Mudukasan 21-16 21-19 to book a place in the round of 16.
The 86-ranked Indian starlet took just 28 minutes to pack off the world no. 31 and will next face Japan's Imai Sachiyo.
But it was another youngster Sayali who pocketed the most surprise victory of the day, stunning Canada's Ana Rice, world no. 29 and a strong contender for the title, in a three game thriller.
The 19-year-old Indian showed enough promise in thwarting the fifth seed's challenge 16-21 22-20 21-16 in 63 minutes. Gokhale next meets Japan's Ai Goto.
In the men's singles, world no. 24, Chetan Anand beat Jun Takemura of Japan 21-19 21-13 in 25 minutes. Anand will face Ismail Saman in the round of 32.
National Champion Anup Sridhar faced a stiff challenge from Rodel Bartolome of Philippines but prevailed 14-21 21-8 22-20. Sridhar has a tough rival in Lee Yen Hui Kendrick of Singapore in the next round.
Arvind Bhat had no such problems and comfortably went past Chung Wei Pei of Malaysia 22-20 21-17 in 34 minutes. Junio Jamie of Philippines awaits Bhat in the next round.
Anand Pawar also fixed a second round berth beating Arolas Amahit Jr 23-25 21-14 21-8. Pawar faces the formidable Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand, seeded third, in the round of 32.
P Kashyap also enjoyed a comfortable outing against host nation's Alfredo Mailon, getting past 21-13 21-12 and setting up a clash with Beng Hong Kuan.
The Indians who lost their first round singles draw were Ruth Misa and Aditi Mutatkar in women's and Rohan Castelino among men's.
Misa lost 15-21 14-21 to Anita Raj Kaur of Malaysia while Mutatkar lost to a fifth seed Julia Xian Pei Wong 21-13 21-11, also from Malaysia.
Poompat Sapkulchananart of Thailand caused Castelino's exit from the first round with a 21-5 21-14 win in 24 minutes.
India's challenge came to an end in women's doubles on the very first day as Mutatkar and Gokhale lost 8-21 9-21 to Yasuyo Imabeppu and Imai Sachiyo of Japan while Nehwal and Misa went down 17-21 12-21 to Lim Siah Pek and Joanna Swe Ling of Malaysia.
In the men's doubles, Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas have got a bye in the first round and will take on Thailand's Anukritayawan Songpol and Nakatong Nattapon in the round of 16.
