Ajay Jayaram provided a scintillating start to India’s World Championships campaign on Monday when the world number 24 stunned higher-ranked Wing Ki Wong of Hong Kong in the men’s singles first round.

Jayaram battled fatigue and lapse in concentration to get the better of Wong 22-20, 17-21, 21-15. He will take on Spain’s Pablo Abian in the second round.

The 25-year-old from Mumbai was first to get off the blocks and that helped him race to a handsome lead in the opening game. It looked he would pocket the game rather easily with four game points until Wong fought back to level scores before Jayaram regrouped and took the next two points and the game.

The world number 12 hit back in the second game by engaging in long rallies, taking the match to the decider.

The Indian showed the maturity to handle the pressure exerted by his opponent to win a tight contest.

India’s challenge in mixed doubles came to an end with the combinations of Aparna Balan/Arun Vishnu and Ashwini Ponnappa/Tarun Kona losing in the first round.