BIRMINGHAM: Ng Tze Yong will have to upset top seed and world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in the quarter-finals if he is to stand a chance to win a medal in the men's singles competition of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
In the draw released yesterday, Tze Yong could not have asked for a tougher draw on his Games debut as he landed in the upper half that also has Gold Coast 2018 silver medallist K. Srikanth of India.
Tze Yong, seeded fifth, received a first-round bye and will open his campaign against either Pakistan's Muhammad Irfan Saeed Bhatti or Zambia's Chongo Mulenga.
Another, India's Thomas Cup hero Lakhsya Sen, is seeded second, and he has a clear path to the semi-finals where he's expected to face fourth seed Brian Yang of Canada.
In the women's singles, Goh Jin Wei must be cursing her luck after being drawn to face Indian ace P.V. Sindhu in the last eight.
However, Jin Wei should have no problem clearing her first two hurdles starting with her meeting with Ghana's Cindy Tornyenyor in the last 32.
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik's gold medal credentials will most likely be tested only in the last four when they are projected to face England's third seeds Ben Lane-Sean Vendy, with Singapore's Terry Hee-Loh Kean Hean also be the other potential opponents.
Scratch pair Chan Peng Soon-Tan Kian Meng have a tricky last 16 encounter against Scotland's Alexander Dunn-Adam Hall, but if they make it through, then the path looks clear for them to reach the semis where second seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty await.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah should reach the final without any trouble and they will be hoping that compatriots Cheah Yee See-Lai Pei Jing can join them from the bottom half.
Scratch pair Yee See-Pei Jing aim to break home crowd's hearts by knocking out second seeds Chloe Birch-Lauren Smith as early as the last 16.
There's also a chance for an all-Malaysian final in the mixed doubles as Kian Meng-Pei Jing and Peng Soon-Yee See have avoided being drawn in the same half.
Top seeds Kian Meng-Pei Jing's biggest threats will be against Singapore's Terry Hee-Tan Wei Han in the semis while Peng Soon-Yee See are looking good to set up a last four encounter with Marcus Ellis and Smith.