Lee Zii Jia will face a tough task to defend his All-England title as he has to navigate two potentially tricky encounters before a possible showdown against Kento Momota in the quarter-finals.
Lee, who started the year on the right note by winning all four of his matches to help Malaysia lift the Asia Team Championships on Sunday, said it would not be an easy task defending his biggest achievement to date.
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“Of course I want to defend my title, but it will be a challenging task. My target is to reach the semi-finals first, and then strategise to make the final,” he said.
Lee faces Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto in his first match, and could take on promising Canadian Brian Yang in the second round.
The world number seven did well in the last two editions of the All-England.
Besides winning it last year, he also did well to reach the semis in 2020.
Liew Daren is the other Malaysian in the main draw and he faces Toma Junior Popov.
In the men’s doubles, rising pair Man Wei Chong-Kai Wun Tee made it to the main draw, but couldn’t have asked for a tougher assignment as they take on third seeds Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi.
Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi play Callum Hemming-Steven Stallwood of England, while Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin face Chinese pair He Ji Ting-Tan Qiang.
Fourth seeds Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are up against Russians Vladimir Ivanov-Ivan Sozonov.
In the women’s doubles, Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah would not have it easy when they play Japan’s Mayu Matsumoto-Wakana Nagahara.
Thinaah should be looking forward to rekindle her partnership with Tan, after she missed out on the Asia Team Championships after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Malaysia has a healthy representation in the mixed doubles with five pairs making it to the main draw.
Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei are drawn against top seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai, while Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai play Mathias Thyrri-Amalie Magelund.
Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See is up against Venkat Gaurav-Juhi Dewangan, while Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing face Adnan Maulana-Mychelle Crhystine Bandaso.
The new pairing of Ong Yew Sin-Goh Liu Ying play Hemming-Jessica Pugh.
