WTT China Smash highlighted by string of major early upsets in Beijing

Thailand's Orawan Paranang pulled off a stunning victory at the WTT China Smash, shocking two-time defending champion Sun Yingsha 3-1 in the second round of women's singles action on Wednesday in Beijing.

Sun and Paranang traded points early in the opening game, with the Chinese world number one edging ahead in the closing stages to prevail 11-8.

Paranang responded strongly in the second game, racing out to a 4-0 lead and maintaining the pressure to put it away 11-4.

The Thai moved in front 9-8 in the third game, before claiming it 12-10 after a tense finish.

She then converted match point to wrap up the fourth game 12-10 to complete the upset.

The Thai qualifier and world number 101 reached the last 16 after knocking out second-seeded Sun, who returned to the top of the rankings earlier this month.

Paranang's next opponent will be Japan's 14th-seeded Honoka Hashimoto.

In another key women's singles match, fourth-ranked Kuai Man beat Zong Geman 3-1.

She will face another Chinese compatriot, Zhu Sibing, in the round of 16.

In the men's singles second round, Zhou Qihao faced Xiang Peng in an all-Chinese showdown.

Trailing by two games, Zhou battled back to force a decider.

After saving two match points, he snatched the fifth game 13-11 to complete a 3-2 comeback and will meet Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto in the last 16.

The women's doubles draw saw Kuai Man and Wang Manyu defeat Australia's Yangzi Liu and Germany's Yuan Wan 3-0 to reach the quarterfinals.

China's second-seeded pair started quickly, with Kuai's forehand winner bringing up game point, en route to taking the opener 11-5.