The biennial tournament, which is scheduled to take place from May 10 to 17, features 35 teams divided into four groups, with the top 12 ranked teams in Group 1 competing for the trophy and the remaining teams (Group 2, 3 and 4) competing for group promotion.

Defending champions China were drawn in Group 1A – a relatively easy group with other members Germany and Thailand.

Group 1C is considered the ‘group of death’ with the presence of three strong teams: former champions Indonesia, Denmark and England.

Thomas Cup winners and Uber Cup runners-up, Japan is in Group 1B with Chinese Taipei and the USA, while Group 1D is made up of three-time champions Republic of Korea, India and Malaysia.

The Sudirman Cup is the world mixed team badminton championship that debuted in Bung Karno Stadium, Central Jakarta, Indonesia on May 24-29, 1989. Each team plays five matches – men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles – against each of their group opponents.

No prize money is up for grabs in Sudirman Cup. Players play for their respective countries and to earn BWF world ranking points and national prestige.

China is the most successful national team in the Sudirman Cup with nine titles won after 13 editions, followed by the Republic of Korea (three time winners) and Indonesia (one time winner).