Tough opener: Lee Zii Jia (right) will cross sword with Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in first round of World Championships.
PETALING JAYA: Independent shuttler Lee Zii Jia will face a tough opener against world No. 5 Jonatan Christie of Indonesia at the World Championships in Copenhagen from Aug 21-27.
The draw of the World Championships was released by Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Thursday.
“Any opponent is a threat when it comes to the World Championships,” said Zii Jia on his first round clash against fifth seed Jonatan.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) shuttler Ng Tze Yong also faces a difficult task in the first round as he is drawn to meet world No. 25 Zhao Junpeng of China.
Meanwhile, defending men’s doubles champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are in a collision course against Olympic champions Lee Yang-Wang Chih-lin of Taiwan in the early rounds of the major event.
Fourth seeds Aaron-Wooi Yik are expected to play Lee Yang-Chih-lin in the third round. The Malaysians received a bye in the first round.
Aaron-Wooi Yik became the first Malaysians to win the world title in Tokyo last year.
The other Malaysian pairs in the competition are world No. 7 Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi and world No. 25 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who made it to the major event following a withdrawal.
