Dan, the men's singles winner at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, will seek to continue the good form he showed in beat perennial rival Lee Chong Wei in the final of the Malaysia Super Series in Kuching earlier this month.

The 33-year-old defending champion will be chasing a seventh title at the event after also triumphing in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2014 as well as 2016.

Domestic challengers look set to provide the sternest threat for the world number six this time around at the Olympic Sports Center.

World number nine Tian Houwei starts as second seed with 23rd ranked Qiao Bin third. 

Taiwan's world number 32 Hsu Jen Hao is fifth seed and the leading non-Chinese entry.

A victory for Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia in 2008 marks the only occasion on which there has been a non-Chinese men's singles winner in the 12 year history of the event.

Olympic champion and Chinese number one Chen Long is absent.

World number 11 Chen Yufei is the number one seed for the corresponding women's singles event.

Japan's 20th ranked Aya Ohori is the second seed.

Ayumi Mini of Japan is seeded third, despite being ranked higher than Ohori at 16th in the world.

Taiwan's world number 33 Chia Hsin Lee is fourth. 

Action is due to begin tomorrow and continue until finals on Sunday (April 23).