The mad race for Olympic ranking points will begin with the Malaysia Masters in Bukit Jalil on Jan 7-12.

All tournaments until the end of April are expected to attract a top-level field who want to pick up points and qualify for the Tokyo Games.

Among the top entries for the Malaysia Masters are men’s singles world champion Kento Momota of Japan and Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan.

BA of Malaysia coaching director Wong Choong Hann said his shuttlers will have to step up in the hope of making the Olympic cut.

“We have chances to win Olympic medals next year but first our shuttlers need to focus on qualifying for it,” said Choong Hann yesterday.

“The tournaments next year will be tough as top-ranked players will be competing for ranking points until the end of April.”

In the men’s singles, Lee Zii Jia will face a stern test against World Championships runner-up Anders Antonsen in the first round. The Malaysian has not beaten the Dane in the last two meetings.

The World No 14, however, will be fired up to start his season brightly following his victory at the recent Philippines Sea Games.

In the men’s doubles, Sea Games champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik will take on compatriots Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong in the first round.

“We hope to have a representation in all five events at the Olympics.

“We are expected to have two pairs in Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying (No 6) and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie (No 8) in the mixed doubles, while it will be either Aaron-Wooi Yik or V Shem-Wee Kiong in the men’s doubles.

“I think we will have a player each in the men and women’s singles in Zii Jia and Soniia Cheah,” he added.