Injury-afflicted Tai Tzu Ying, who has played only one match over the last month, is expected to be back in action at the Indonesia Open 2024 where she’s seeded fourth.

The Chinese Taipei ace has been nursing a knee injury and took the court only once during her team’s campaign at the Uber Cup. Her last individual campaign was at the Badminton Asia Championships 2024 in April. With the Olympics fast approaching, Tai will seek to shore up her seeding with a strong performance in Indonesia. The world No.5, who has won the Indonesia Open thrice, faces Goh Jin Wei in the opener.

In the top quarter, No.1 An Se Young, who too has been affected by a knee injury in recent months, faces rising Japanese prospect Tomoka Miyazaki.

Another star afflicted by injury, Akane Yamaguchi, will also be in action in Indonesia, with a first round against Sung Shuo Yun.

In men’s singles, Viktor Axelsen, who has a stellar record at the Indonesia Open with three straight titles, will seek to build on the form he showed at the PERODUA Malaysia Masters. The top seed faces Lee Cheuk Yiu in his opening test, and either Kidambi Srikanth or Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo in the second round.

Two in-form players this season, Jonatan Christie and Shi Yu Qi, are headed for a semifinal clash in the bottom half of the draw.

Draw Highlights:

» Indonesian fans will have to reconcile to an all-Indonesia opening clash between Fajar AlfianMuhammad Rian Ardianto and Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin. ‘Daddies’ Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan, whose only Indonesia Open title came over a decade ago, are up against Supak Jomkoh/Kittinupong Kedren in the last quarter.

» In women’s doubles, only three countries – Korea, China and Japan – have won titles over the last 13 years. Home hopefuls Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti will have a lot of expectations riding on their shoulders as they face a difficult test in the first round, against TOYOTA Thailand Open 2024 champions Jongkolphan Kititharakul/Rawinda Prajongjai.

» In mixed doubles, three-time champions Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong will have the home crowd against them as they are up against Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Lisa Ayu Kusumawati in their opening encounter. Interestingly, Rehan’s father Tri Kusharjanto is the mixed doubles record holder at the Indonesia Open with six titles.