The Chinese player, the runner-up at the World Championships last year, had to go the distance against Russia's qualifier Vladimir Malkov at St. Jakobshalle.

Shi eventually prevailed 21-10, 21-23, 21-17 as main draw action began at the World Tour Super 300 event.

Reigning Olympic champion Chen Long, the second seed, enjoyed easier passage with the Chinese player beating Japan's Yu Igarashi 21-12, 21-11.

Indonesia's fifth seed and Asian Games champion Jonatan Christie eased past Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia 21-9, 21-17 and China's two-time Olympic gold medallist Lin Dan was also comfortable.

Lin, the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 champion who is seeded seventh, disappointed the home crowd by beating Switzerland's Christian Kirchmayr 21-11, 21-6.

China's top seed Chen Yufei made it through in the women's draw as she looks to back up her victory at last week's All England Open Championships.

She knocked out France's Qi Xuefei 21-14, 21-11.

With second seed He Bingjiao of China and third seed Saina Nehwal of India both withdrawing, South Korea's Sung Ji-hyun could be Chen's biggest threat.

The fourth seed was involved in an intriguing clash with Switzerland's home hope Sabrina Jaquet and only made it through when her opponent retired in the third.

Sung was winning 23-21, 19-21, 12-3 at the time.

A second BWF tournament is also being held with the Lingshui Masters, a Super 100 event, taking place at Agile Stadium in the Chinese city.

Top men's seed Ihsan Maulana Mustofa of Indonesia beat Sheng Xiaodong of Canada 21-15, 21-16 to reach round three.

China's top women's seed Zhang Yiman made it to round two by beating Yu Chieh of Chinese Taipei 21-15, 21-15.