Denmark’s Axelsen, the top seed and men’s world number one, subdued a spirited first-game challenge from China’s unseeded Huang Yuxiang.

The first game was tied at 16-16 when water drops on the court forced a lengthy delay and eventually the relocation of the match to another court.

That’s when Axelsen caught fire, closing out the first game and stepping on the gas in game two to win the match 21-17, 21-8.

“I was not prepared for the unexpected incident on the court,” Huang said.

“He (Axelsen) went into the game much better after the break. I didn’t get used to the new court as quickly as he did.”

Women’s eighth seed Okuhara of Japan made shorter work of unseeded Rachel Honderich, sending the 22-year-old Canadian packing 21-11, 21-9 in just 28 minutes in Nanjing.

Hosts China, led by the great Lin Dan, are the sport’s superpower, but they have seen their dominance slip of late and can expect a tough fight against the rest of the world’s best in Nanjing.

It was so far so good on Wednesday as Lin, the number nine seed, got past Sameer Verma of India, 21-17, 21-14.

Also for China, men’s number three seed Shi Yuqi defeated England’s Rajiv Ouseph 21-18, 21-9 and Olympic champion Chen Long dispatched Khosit Phetpradab of Thailand, 21-16, 21-11.

Their compatriot, women’s fifth seed Chen Yufei, had a rougher time against Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia.

After Chen won the first game 21-17, Tunjung jumped out to a 17-10 lead in the second and looked ready to extend the match to a third game.

But Chen, 20, stormed back to take the game 22-20 and win the match.

“I think I’m better prepared today, mentally and technically, and this makes me more confident,” Chen told state-run Xinhua news agency.

Also moving ahead were women’s singles second-seed Akane Yamaguchi, who got past Fabienne Deprez of Germany

 The 11th-seeded Thai, who had a first round-bye, showed her superior all-court game to subdue the 65th-ranked Dutchwoman to book a spot in the round of 16, joining compatriot Ratchanok Intanon, who had already booked her spot the day before.

A daunting task awaits Nitchaon in the third round, however – she will next face world No 2 Akane Yamaguchi, a 21-17 21-10 winner over German Fabienne Deperez.

For Ratchanok, meanwhile, it’s questionable that she will go into Thursday’s match against India’s Saina Nehwal 100 per cent fit, following a right ankle injury she sustained in her previous match.

Thailand also has two doubles teams left in the women’s doubles.

Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai eased past Linda Efler and Eva Janssens of Germany 21-11 21-11 in the second round, while Chayanit Chaladchalam and Pathaimas Muenwong beat Taiwanese pair Lin Xiao Min and Wu Fang Chien 21-9 21-14.

There was less good fortune for Thailand in men’s action.

In second-round singles action Thai No 2 Khosit Phetpradab was sent packing by 2016 Olympic Games gold medalist Chen Long of China 21-16 21-11.

In the doubles, Tinn Isriyanet and Kittisak Namdash went down to fifth-seeded Tajeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda of Japan 21-12 18-21 21-16.

When his father, 16-year NBA veteran Dell Curry, would finally hang up his basketball sneakers for the season, he’d usually venture out to the nearest North Carolina golf course to try his hand at another sport. And his son Steph could almost always be found along for the ride.

“When I was young my dad was just getting into the game as well,” Steph Curry recalled. “And he would take me around. I’d drive the golf cart, chip and putt, learn the ropes, and eventually built some momentum and passion and a love for it myself. And (then) I was dragging him to the course.”

Curry would eventually follow in his father’s footsteps. Not just on the hardwood, where he’s become a three-time NBA champion and two-time MVP, but on the course, as well. Curry’s love for golf will be on display next month in Hayward, Calif., where for the second straight season the Golden State Warriors guard will play in the Web.com Tour’s Ellie Mae Classic. The tournament, hosted by TPC Stonebrae, will be played the week of Aug. 6-12.

“The players on the Web.com Tour welcomed me with open arms in 2017, and it was an amazing experience to play with up-and-coming PGA TOUR stars inside the ropes at TPC Stonebrae,” Curry said. “I have been fortunate to be a member of an incredible team in the Golden State Warriors, and I was elated to feel that same level of camaraderie onsite last year. Golf is a game that has provided wonderful experiences in my life, and I am excited to return to the Ellie Mae Classic in August.”

Curry made his Web.com Tour debut at the event’s 2017 edition, posting rounds of 74-74—148 (8-over) while drawing tournament-record crowds. For 2018, Curry will again maintain his amateur status in the event and will compete on an unrestricted sponsor exemption.

“We are thrilled to announce that Stephen Curry will once again compete in the Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae,” said Tournament Director Trish Gregovich. “His debut in 2017 was a tremendous success for our event and brought countless new golf fans to the Web.com Tour. Stephen is a role model for kids around the world and a pillar of the Bay Area community, and we are honored to have him play alongside the game’s rising stars in 2018.”

Curry, a member of the Warriors since 2009, won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award in both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons and has appeared in the last four NBA Finals, helping lead the team to Championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018. The 30-year-old is also currently the Warriors’ all-time leader in three-pointers made and owns four of the top five single-season three-point totals in NBA history, including a record 402 three-pointers in 2015-16. Curry has been selected to four All-NBA Teams and has been a starter on the Western Conference All-Star team in each of the last five seasons.

Over the last two years, the Ellie Mae Classic has delivered one of the most memorable weeks of the Web.com Tour season. In 2016, Germany’s Stephan Jaeger posted a PGA TOUR-record 58 in the opening round on his way to a record-setting 30-under-par 250 total and a seven-shot victory. Last year, Curry’s debut generated over 4,500 articles in 64 countries, while Martin Piller earned his sixth Tour title by one shot over Brandon Harkins.

“The Ellie Mae family welcomes Stephen back to the Ellie Mae Classic. He’s a champion on the court and we look forward to seeing that Warriors spirit on the green,” said Jonathan Corr, president and CEO of Ellie Mae. “With Steph joining the field, he’ll play alongside some of the world’s greatest golfers while bringing the sport of golf to Bay Area sports fans who might not have come out to watch the tournament in previous years. We’re looking forward to a great event and to another great year supporting the tournament’s tradition of philanthropy.”

Curry calls himself a “golf junkie,” immersing himself in the sport as often as possible. He once said he and his father watch and talk about golf more than basketball, somewhat surprising given what the latter has done for their respective careers.

Perhaps it’s the adrenaline rush that comes with a critical birdie or a clutch par-save. “That’s what golf brings you,” he said. “It obviously humbles you as well, but you like those great moments you have.”

He’ll look for more great moments again next month at TPC Stonebrae, where he hopes to add yet another achievement to his ever-expanding trophy case.

“You kind of morph my two worlds, my love for golf and the competitive environment of being an athlete, and it’s a pretty cool experience,” he said. “ … The adrenalin rush is crazy out there.”

“I want to get the job done and take away the trophy,” said the 29-year old.

Kiradech has plenty of reason to be super confident. This year, his career has continued to trend nicely with a couple of impressive top-five finishes at the WGC-Mexico Championship and WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Two other top-15s at the Memorial Tournament and U.S. Open have also helped the big-hitting Kiradech become the first Thai golfer to secure his PGA TOUR card for the 2018-19 season.

Throw in his triumph in Australia at a tri-sanctioned tournament by the Asian, European and Australian Tours in February, Kiradech certainly has reason to feel like he’s on top of the world but he knows only a win at the iconic Firestone Country Club this week can put the exclamation mark to his impressive 2018 campaign.

“When I go to tournaments, it’s about myself now, how I perform and try to play my best,” said Kiradech. “The first two times that I played at Firestone, I was not consistent with my ball control but now, I can move the ball around and can go for certain shots. It should be a better week.”

In two previous appearances, Kiradech, a former world junior amateur champion, finished T40 and 53^rd in 2013 and 2016 respectively and broke par only twice in eight rounds. He remembers Firestone as a course which rewards straight-shooting and for its smallish greens.

“It’s a long and narrow golf course, a bit old-styled with mature trees lining the fairways. If you strike it well and hit lots of fairways, then you can have chances to make birdies,” said Kiradech, who is now ranked 31^st in the world.

His only concern ahead of this week’s showpiece which will parade 29 of the top-30 players from the FedExCup standings is fatigue. Kiradech has played in eight tournaments over a span of nine weeks culminating with The Open Championship two weeks ago.

When he arrived home in Bangkok, he did not bother to unpack his golf clubs and hung out with friends and family.

“My game did not feel good (at The Open). I was a bit tired as I’ve been playing a lot of tournaments and it affected my game. I couldn’t keep my ball under the wind,” said Kiradech, who finished T75 at the year’s third major.

“I had several good days being at home. I was away for several months and have probably hit a million golf balls during that time, so I wasn’t going to unpack my golf clubs at all.”

The former Asian Tour No. 1 is keen to succeed Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama as champion of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational but knows he must keep to the old cliché of taking it one shot at a time.

“I’ve been hitting it good this year and the key is always to stay patient and to stick to the game plan. The good thing is I’m enjoying my golf. It’ll be a good week to play well,” said Kiradech.

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, 14-time major winner Tiger Woods, reigning FedExCup winner Justin Thomas, newly crowned Open winner Francesco Molinari and Matsuyama are amongst the stars assembled at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational which starts on Thursday.

 National team manager Chairat Udomkijpanya said the association had set its sights on winning medals from all 15 weightlifting events but he placed especially high hopes on Sopita and Sukanya, who won the 48kg and 58kg golds in Rio Games two years ago.

In the upcoming Asiad, Sopita will compete in the 53kg while Sukanya will remain at 58kig.

The silver medalist in 2012 and 2016, Pimsiri Sirikaew, and 2016 bronze medalist Sinphet Kruaithong, the first Thai male weightlifter to win an Olympic medal, are also podium hopes for the Kingdom.

“Two gold medals are what our association is targeting in the Games,” said Chairat. “Our athletes have been lifting with good records in the global level. They are all ready to compete.”

Furthermore, Thailand has emerged as one of the strong contenders in weightlifting, with the Chinese still on a one-year-ban from international events after at least three samples of their athletes from the 2008 and 2012 Games tested positive.

Altogether nine countries, including Kazakhstan, have been banned from entering international events following a ruling from the International Weightlifting Federation in October last year.

Thailand will enter a 15-member team (eight men and seven women) for the weightlifting competition, which will take place from August 20 to 27 in Jakarta. Four years ago, in Incheon, the Kingdom managed just two bronzes from Rattikarn Gulnoi (women’s 58kg) and Chitchanok Pulsabrakul (women’s +75kg).

Jiu Jitsu Association of Thailand president Air Chief Marshal Chuchart Boonchai is hoping for at least one gold out of seven up for grabs in Indonesia. Apart from the Japanese martial arts, the games will also feature Kurash, Pencak SIlatm Sambo and Wushu.

 Playing her first tournament in three weeks after sustaining a back injury, the 2013 champion Ratchanok was kept at bay by a series of powerful smashes from the world No 19 before she staged a comeback late in the second game.

“I made way too many errors, hitting a lot of shots out as I tried to maximize my effort. Luckily I was quite focused at the end of the second game and fought my way back from there,” said the world No 4.

At 18-16 down in the second game, the Thai star lunged for a shot at the baseline and sprained her right ankle.

She had it sprayed and went on to stage an admirable comeback to level the tie before winning the decider with something to spare.

“I was a bit scared at the beginning but I pulled it off. I have the ankle covered with ice now. After a rest on Wednesday I should be ready for the next match on Thursday,” added the Thai star.

Next up is old rival Senah Newal of India, who trounced Aliye Demirbag of Turkey 21-7 21-8.

“It will be another tough match but I will give my all to produce good results in this tournament. There’s nothing to worry about with the ankle,” she said.

However, Thai No 4 Busanan Ongbamrungphan went out in round two, losing 21-9 21-8 to 2014-15 champion Carolina Marin of Spain.

In the mixed doubles, Dechapol Puavaranokroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai beat Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing of Malaysia 21-12 21-15.

In the men’s singles first round, Suppanyu Avihingsanon lost to 12th seeded Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia 21-12 21-14, while Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk had to retire from his match with Anders Antonsen of Denmark due to injury.

This was during a match in Surabaya, Indonesia, between Malaysia and Thailand at the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-16 tournament. Malaysia lost to Thailand 2-1 in the Group B match on Monday (July 30).

Before departing for the tournament, Malaysia U-16 forward Amirul Ashrafiq Hanifah uploaded a picture of the team at the airport on his Instagram account, and included the Indonesian flag in the caption.

However, he mistakenly picked the white and red Polish flag, which is the reverse of the red and white Indonesian flag but has since apologised for his error.

“Nonetheless, action needs to be taken. I believe that it has to be done immediately.

“You have to be diplomatic but this is not a question of resolving the situation diplomatically,” he said in a statement posted on Johor Southern Tigers official Facebook page.

FAM secretary-general Stuart Ramalingam in a statement said that the Indonesian fans had gone overboard with their insults and hopes action will be taken to prevent a recurrence of such an incident at the team’s next match against Brunei on Friday.

“The action of sending in the letter of protest to AFF and AFC was swiftly undertaken so that both parties concerned can take the necessary actions in making sure the same thing will not happen during the team’s next Group B match against Brunei in the same stadium this Friday.

“In making sure that the safety level of the team is assured, FAM has decided to send FAM exco member, ACP Mohd Dali Wahid, who is a high ranking police official to Surabaya tomorrow (Aug 1) to evaluate the safety measures implemented by the host nation and organisers.

“If it is found that the host nation and organisers are taking this issue lightly, FAM will not hesitate to take more drastic actions in the future,” he added.

Stuart also hoped that AFF and AFC would seriously address this issue, citing a previous incident when Malaysia was fined US$30,000 (RM121,702) after Malaysian fans sang defamatory chants towards Brunei and Singapore during the men’s football matches at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

Meanwhile, in a tweet, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said previously action had been taken against Malaysia over the irresponsible behaviour of some Malaysian fans.

“Now, when our players are called dogs and threatened to be killed, FAM must take strict action and report it to the AFF. Stern action must be meted out,” he said.

Chinese superstar Lin Dan and “nervous” number one Viktor Axelsen both made ominously fast starts at the badminton World Championships on Monday.

The 34-year-old Lin is seeking a sixth world title and in front of an adoring crowd in Nanjing he made light work of Dutchman Mark Caljouw, winning 21-14, 21-14 in 49 minutes.

“Super Dan” nonchalantly ended one long rally with a deft flick, the shuttlecock dipping just over the net to bring the arena to its feet in appreciation.

Axelsen, the top seed and reigning champion from Denmark, was even more emphatic, needing just 26 minutes to thrash Duarte Nuno Anjo of Portugal 21-8, 21-7 in a mismatch.

Also safely through on the first day of action was China’s third seed Shi Yuqi, a comfortable 21-13, 21-11 winner over Adam Mendrek of the Czech Republic.

The 24-year-old Axelsen, who has endured an injury-affected season, admitted afterwards to a bout of nerves — though it hardly showed.

“I don’t want to think too much (about my title defence), it is important for me,” Axelsen was quoted by the Xinhua news agency as saying.

“I need to be relaxed and see how far I can go.

“I was a little nervous today, but I feel good about the arena, it’s very big and easy for me to have a good control of the shuttle.”

Chen Long, the current Olympic champion and another realistic home hope, also eased through, 21-13, 21-15 against Taiwan’s Hsu Jen-hao.

Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan had no problem booking her second round spot in women’s singles after she trounced American Jamie Hsu  21-10 21-11.

Thai No 2 Khosit Phetpradab also moved ahead, beating Georges Juliean Paul of Mauritius 21-15 21-12  in the men’s singles.

Stephens, ranked a career-high third, suffered a first-round Wimbledon exit after falling to Simona Halep in last month’s French Open final. She begins her hardcourt push to Flushing Meadows at the same event where she won her first WTA title in 2015.

“Preparations for hardcourts have been good. Excited to be back on hardcourts, it’s my favorite surface, and back in the United States,” Stephens said Monday.

“Defending any tournament is hard but especially a Grand Slam. I’ve never been in that situation before. I know there will be a lot of nerves and excitement going into the US Open but I’m looking forward to it.”

The 25-year-old American arrived in Washington last year after ending an 11-month layoff with an opening loss at Wimbledon, worried her career was in jeopardy after a left foot injury that required surgery in January 2017.

“A lot has happened in the last year and I’ve adjusted well. I’ve been able to become fit pretty quickly,” Stephens said.

“There were different types of stress and anxiety. I didn’t know if I would ever be able to play the same again. There were a lot of unknowns.

“It’s a bit different pressure this time. I feel ready to prepare my best. It’s a little different outlook. I’m the same player but I have a different attitude about it.”

Stephens overcame last year’s worries with the greatest fortnight of her career to win the US Open, winning four times in three sets — the last time against Venus Williams in the semi-finals — and then routing friend and compatriot Madison Keys 6-3, 6-0 in the final.

Stephens rolled to her sixth career WTA title at her most recent hardcourt event, last March’s Miami Open, and has pushed herself for more improvement ahead of the latest hardcourt campaign.

“There are ups and downs each week,” Stephens said. “You have to work on every aspect of your game and make sure you are getting better.”

Stephens knows the momentum a good Washington week can provide. After her 2015 crown, she won titles at Auckland, Mexico and Charleston in early 2016 but didn’t capture another until last year in New York.

“I won my first tournament here. That will always be cool for me,” Stephens said. “I love the courts here.”

The Thai No 1, who became the first player from the Kingdom to earn his card for next season’s PGA Tour after finishing 15th at the US Open, hopes young Thais see him as an inspiration as they dream of a career at the top of the sport.

“If I can do it, so can they. Just never give up. I don’t want young players to think that the PGA is out of reach,” said Kiradech during his visit to the Royal Cup in Chon Buri.

The world No 31 said he grew up watching former Thai No 1 Thongchai Jaidee having great successes around the world and even play in some PGA events (as a non-member), which inspired him to follow in his footsteps.

Now he hopes to be the same role model for future generations.

“I got to see some players in the Royal Cup and there are lot of talented Thai players under 20 who can pursue a career on the world stage,” said Kiradech. “I want young players to start believing. With perseverance, hard practice, determination and a clear target, they might even succeed earlier than me.”

29-year-old also suggested that local tournaments set up difficult courses so that young players can sharpen their skills before they enter the more challenging conditions in the Majors and big international events.

“From my experience, young players complain they can’t tackle difficult circumstances because they have become used to easy conditions. So they feel discouraged and tired,” Kiradech explained.

“But if they practise on narrow fairways and firm greens with long roughs, they can adapt to tough challenges. I never want to see the winners shooting under 15 or 20 under-par in Thailand. Local courses should be set up tougher.”

This year Kiradech was the only Thai to make the cut at the Open, while young guns like Danthai Boonma and Jazz Janewattananond were gone by the weekend. Teen sensation Phachara Khongwatmai also failed to make the Open cut in his two attempts, in 2016 and 2017.

“Our young players are as good as Americans, they just don’t get used to difficult courses,” Kiradech added.

Thailand’s top player will next enter the World Golf Championships in Ohio next week before the year’s final major, the PGA Championship.

His aim for his first season on the PGA Tour next year is to win his first title and play in some big European Tour events if he earns a full membership card again the following year.

“I want the world to see a Thai flag flying on the PGA ,” he said.