It will be a tall order for the Malaysian contingent at the upcoming All-England Open to return home with a trophy and end a four-year drought since Lee Chong Wei last won.

After Lee clinched his fourth title at the event in 2017, only men’s doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik made the final in 2019.

Lee Zii Jia came within striking distance of making the final last year, but this time around the odds are stacked against the Malaysians, especially with the return of several top shuttlers across all disciplines.

In the men’s singles, Lee and Liew Daren could see their journey end at the hands of Kento Momota, who is making his first competitive return in over a year.

The world number one looks to pick up where he left off since winning the Malaysia Masters last January.

Soniia Cheah is not expected to get past fifth seed P. V. Sindhu in the opening round of the women’s singles, but S. Kisona could surprise with a victory against Thailand’s eighth seed Busanan Ongbamrungphan.

She may not progress beyond the quarter-finals, but playing at the prestigious event should do the SEA Games defending champion a world of good.

Kisona, who arrived in Birmingham on Monday is determined to make this opportunity count.

"I am looking forward to facing her. She is stronger that me, but that does not mean I should look down at myself. I am going to give my best anyway. I have already come this far and this has been my wish to play at the All England," she told Stadium Astro.

In the men’s doubles, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong face a tricky tie against Mark Lamsfuss-Marvin Seidel, who beat them en route to reaching the Swiss Open final.

The other pairs are young Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi.

With the return of world number one pair Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and the Japanese top seeds, the Malaysians could see their journey end early.

Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying present the country’s best chance in the mixed doubles as third seeds.

But they have not played well this year with early exits at the Bangkok Tour, and a quarter-final loss at the Swiss Open.

Fans will be paying special attention to the women’s doubles, where Swiss Open champions Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are in action against Thailand’s fourth seeds Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajonglai.

The world number 30 pair are expected to progress the furthest among the rest, if they get past the first test.