New Delhi: Saina Nehwal faces the task of overcoming a recent dip in form to defend the crown at the Hong Kong Open, which starts with the qualifiers on Tuesday.
Saina had won three Super Series title - Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong - besides winning the Commonwealth Games gold and India Open Grand Prix last year.
Come Wednesday, the world number four Saina will take on Hong Kong's Tsz Ka Chan in her tournament opener.
Interestingly, Saina had faced Chan in the first round of the last edition too, beating her in straight games and the Indian would look to keep her slate clean when she takes her on again at the same venue on Wednesday.
In the men's singles, P Kashyap and Ajay Jayaram have been handed out tough draws.
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Kashyap will take on four-time world champion and reigning Olympic champion, Lin Dan of China, while Ajay Jayaram will be up against sixth seed Sho Sasaki in the opening round.
The world number 18 Indian duo of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa will face eighth seeds Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl of Denmark.
Jwala will also pair up with V Diju to take on the local combo of Wai Hong Wong and Hoi Wah Chau in the mixed doubles opener, while Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas will play the English pair of Chris Adcock and Andrew Ellis in their first round matches of the men's doubles event.
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