2021 All England champion Lee Zii Jia was handed a rather favourable draw as the fourth seed at this year’s edition (March 14-19) after he was drawn against Thailand Sitthikom Thammasin in the opening round.

If Lee can stay consistent, which was an issue for him in the past few months, he could face either Lu Guang Zu, Kodai Naraoka, Toma Junior Popov or K. Srikanth in the last eight.

With the exception of Naraoka, Lee holds a better record against the rest.

Lee admitted he was desperate for some much needed form after crashing out in the early rounds of Malaysia Open, India Open and Indonesia Masters.

He also suffered a loss against H.S.Prannoy at the recent Asia Mixed Team Championships, but managed to beat China’s Lei Lan Xi in the last eight.

Ng Tze Yong, meanwhile, takes on Indonesia’s Shesar Hiren Rhustavito, while veteran Liew Daren is up against another Indonesian in Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo.

Goh Jin Wei, who managed to make the cut for the main draw in the women’s singles, is up against Germany’s Yvonne Li in the first round.

As second seeds in the men’s doubles, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik face Indonesian pair Leo Rolly Carnando-Daniel Marthin as their first test.

Meanwhile, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun should fancy their chances against Dutch duo Ruben Jille-Ties Van Der Lecq, while eighth seeds Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi are up against reigning Olympic champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi-lin.

In the women’s doubles, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah face off against Japan’s Mayu Matsumoto-Wakana Nagahara, whom they beat in three stirring games to win last year’s French Open.

Another Malaysian women's doubles pair in Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien take on French duo Margot Lambert-Anne Tran.

In the mixed doubles, sixth seeds Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing contest against Rinov Rivaldy-Pitha Haningtyas Mentari and scratch pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei take on Japan’s Yuki Kaneko-Misaki Matsutomo.

Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai play Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yu-jung.

The All England takes place after the German Open (March 7-12), which marks the first event of the European leg.

There is also the Swiss Open taking place later this month.