Hong Kong Open badminton begins despite city protests

Bminton's Hong Kong Open began Tuesday despite fresh pro-democracy protests across financial hub with a number of city's players qualifying for main draw to delight ir home fans. bminton showpiece is one of few high-profile sports events to go ahe in city during five months of increasingly violent demonstrations. BWF Super 500 event, featuring many top players from mainland China, h been thrown into doubt by police shooting of a demonstrator and a man being set on fire by protesters on Monday.

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But re was a large attendance with occasional shouts in Cantonese of "d oil" -- an oft-used sporting chant to urge on players that has been opted by pro-democracy movement. Cheung Ying Mei was up at dawn to battle traffic and crippled city transport system to get to Hong Kong Coliseum venue on time, but it was worth it after her 21-10, 20-22, 21-19 win against Indonesia's Lyanny Alessandra Mainaky. Cheung will face Denmark's Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt in women's singles first round on Wednesday. Hong Kong mixed doubles pair Ng Tsz Yau and Yeung Ming k h a bitter-sweet win over compatriots Yeung Shing Choi and Ka Yan Fan 21-14, 21-13.

"y are our team too," Ng said but Yeung declined to give an opinion on protests, emphasising that y hn't affected tournament.

"Even in city, with what is happening, y (fans) also come in to cheer," ding crowd was "supporting all of Hong Kong, everything." Yeung n teamed up with Chang Tak Ching in men's doubles to beat Taiwan pair Chang Ko-chi and Lu Chia-pin 21-18, 21-17.

"We played well," said Chang. " Hong Kong people cheering helped us. " audience are really great. Outside even though people are protesting, we sill focus on match."

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pair face China's Ou Xuanyi and Zhang Nan in first round. top seeds -- including men's world number one Kento Momota of Japan and Chinese rivals Shi Yuqi and Chen Long -- will begin ir campaigns on Wednesday.  A spokesperson for governing body Bminton World Federation (BWF) told AFP: "All possible avenues regarding security and status of tournament has been looked into. " number one priority is and will always be safety of athletes, player entour, officials, spectators and staff and this has been factored into all decisions."

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