Malaysia have been handed a favourable draw alongside European champions Germany and Chinese Taipei for the world mixed team badminton championships, which were named after former Indonesian tennis player and founder of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI), Dick Sudirman.

"This draw is very good for Malaysia and we will be looking to get into the quarter-finals," said Malaysia's head singles coach, Rashid Sidek.

Elsewhere, defending champions China have declared that they fear no-one as they look to claim their ninth triumph since the biennial cup launched in 1989.

The top seeds will face Indonesia and India in Group 1A.

Defending champions China's Head Coach Li Yongbo has no fears going into the Sudirman Cup

"It does not matter who we play," said China's Head Coach Li Yongbo.

"We will try our best to defend our title."

Group 1B features joint number three seeds Thailand, South Korea and Hong Kong while Group 1D will be played out between Japan, Singapore and number 2 seeds Denmark, who will be bidding to be the first European team to win the cup.

Russia, United States, Sweden and Scotland will face each other in Group 2A, as the Netherlands, France, Canada and Austria face off in Group 2B.

Ukraine, New Zealand, Turkey and Sri Lanka are in Group 3A and Switzerland, Vietnam, Australia and Lithuania are in Group 3B.

Group 4 features South Africa, the Philippines and Kazakhstan.

The 13th Li Ning Sudirman Cup is due to take place at the Putra Indoor Stadium in Kuala Lumpur and will commence on May 19 this year.

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