Glasgow’s Imogen Bankier and Edinburgh-born Robert Blair opted out of defending the Bank of Scotland International Championship, and the mixed double pair came close to a shock first round exit in the La Ning China Super Series.

The British No. 7 seeds scraped through 21-23 21-19 23-21 against Malaysia’s Khim Wah Lin and Pei Ty Weng.

It was mixed fortunes for Scotland’s highest ranked singles player, Alistair Casey. The Glasgow player was promoted from the qualifying event, but then went out 8-21 9-21 to the Chinese No.3 seed, Jin Chen.