MALAYSIA 2008 SUPER SERIES : No lucky draw for home players

The badminton world is eagerly awaiting the start of the new Super Series season, which will kick off in just over a week with the Malaysian Open Super Series and, as last year, the draw was very tough on the Malaysians with top players facing each other as early as the first round.

The men's singles event faces a major absence as the world number one, Lin Dan, withdrew from the tournament. Therefore, all Malaysians will likely have their hopes up for Lee Chong Wei, who has been promoted to the number one seed. However, he will have to meet compatriot Hafiz Hashim in the very first round. Lee Chong Wei (photo) should meet Indonesia’s idol, Taufik Hidayat in the quarter-final for one of the highlights of the tournament. Another disappointment for the local crowd will be that several other Malaysian players will have to meet each other as Sairul Amar Ayob and Roslin Hashim are going to fight for a spot in the second round.

Indonesian players must also feel as if this draw is punishing them as all their participants to the main draw will certainly meet some problems from the very first round as Sony Dwi Kuncoro is set to meet Lee Hyun Il from Korea, former world number one, followed by Taufik Hidayat facing Park Sung Hwan and finally Simon Santoso against Thailand's talent Boonsak Ponsana.