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NEW DELHI: Chinese shuttler Lin Dan opens the defence of his World Badminton Championships men's singles title against unseeded Misha Zilberman of Israel after the draw on Tuesday.
Fifth-seeded Lin, seeking a hat-trick of titles after winning at the 2006 and 2007 championships, could face 11th-seeded compatriot Bao Chunlai in the third round of the elite event, starting in Hyderabad on August 10.
Top seed and world number one Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia was drawn to meet German Dieter Domke in the opening round.
Denmark's Peter Gade, seeded third, will clash with Ukrainian Valeriy Atrashchenkov.
Seven of the top eight women's seeds have been given a first-round bye.
Top seed Mi Zhou of Hong Kong will meet the winner of the match between Nanna Brosolat Jensen of Denmark and New Zealander Michelle Chan Ky in the second round.
Sixth-seeded Saina Nehwal, who became the first Indian to clinch a Super Series badminton title in Jakarta last month, could meet Poland's Olga Konon in the second round.
Nehwal, 19, caught the eye with a stunning victory over China's world number three Wang Lin in the Indonesian Open final.
China bagged three of the five titles at the previous World Championships, in Kuala Lumpur two years ago - men's singles, women's singles and women's doubles - while Indonesia triumphed in the men's and mixed doubles.
The championships were not held last year because of the Beijing Olympics, where Lin won gold in the singles. - AFP/de
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