India’s Anand Pawar will take on top seed and World No.2 Chen Long of China in the Adidas China Masters today.
Pawar is ranked No.39 in the men’s rankings and will have to play the match of his life to beat Chen Long.
Ajay Jayaram is the other Indian in action in the tournament, which many other top Indian players have skipped in order to rest after participating in the Indian Badminton League.
Jayaram is ranked No.30 in the world, and will also face a tough task in progressing through the tournament. He will take on Chen Yuekun of China in the first round, and if he manages to win, is likely to face Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto, the fourth seed, and Denmark’s sixth seed Jan O. Jorgensen further on in the draw.
The Mumbai shuttler will however look to take inspiration from his form in the IBL and the BWF World Championships, in which he managed to beat World No.12 Wing Ki Wong of China.