SINGAPORE – Up-and-coming young shuttler Yeo Jia Min, who is ranked No 2 in the world junior rankings, is through to the main draw of the OUE Singapore Open for the first time, after the 18-year-old defeated Indonesians Jesica Muljati and Lyanna Alessandra Mainaky in the women’s singles qualifiers on Tuesday.

The world No 73 Singaporean will face a higher-ranked opponent, Kim Hyo Min of South Korea (37) in the first round on Wednesday.

“During the match, I didn’t really think about entering the main draw, but I just thought of what my gameplay was and just focus,” said Yeo. “I caught a

fever and flu a few days ago and thankfully, I feel better today.”

Singapore’s mixed doubles pair Terry Hee and Tan Wei Han advanced to the second round after dispatching Indonesia’s Ronald Ronald and Melati Daeva Oktavianti (Indonesia) 21-19, 22-20.

They will face All England champions Lu Kai and Huang Yaqiong of China in the next round at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, and Tan said: “They are much more experienced and they will definitely have much lesser errors and unforced errors so it’s going to be very hard to kill them with one shot.

“We need to be very patient as they will be very patient, too.”

Day One of the badminton action at the OUE Singapore Open proved to be a mixed day for Team Singapore, with mixed doubles pairs Bimo Adi Prakoso and Jin Yujia, Jason Wong and Citra Putri Sari Dewi, women’s doubles players Ong Re-Ne and Crystal Wong eliminated from the qualifiers. The Republic’s challenge in the men’s singles ended on Tuesday as Ryan Ng was beaten 2-1 by Thailand’s Pannawit Thongnuam in the qualifiers, while compatriot Grace Chua was also eliminated in the women’s singles.

Spectators at the Indoor Stadium also witnessed the day’s biggest upset as Olympic mixed doubles champions Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir (Indonesia) – the world No 3 pair have won the Singapore Open three times – crashed out of the tournament after a first round loss (21-14, 21-16) to Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai (No 11).