The top seed is scheduled to begin her campaign at the Axiata Arena against Malaysia’s Soniia Cheah.

Among those expected to challenge Tai, the current world number one, are India’s Pusarla V Sindhu and Saina Nehwal.

Third seed Pusarla, the Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist, has been drawn against Indonesia’s Hanna Ramadini in the first round.

Nehwal, meanwhile, will initially have to find her way past Chinese Taipei’s Chiang Mei Hui.

Pusarla was a silver medallist at last year’s BWF World Championships in Scottish city Glasgow, while Nehwal was one of the two bronze medallists along with China's Chen Yufei.

"Both Sindhu and Saina are very impressive players," Tai, who won five BWF Superseries crowns in 2017 to take her overall tally to 12, told the Hindustan Times.

"Both had a great 2017.

"But this is just the beginning of a glorious era in Indian badminton with all the singles players in their early 20s.

"They are most likely to improve and further flourish."

Nehwal triumphed at last year’s edition of the Malaysia Masters, which was then a BWF Grand Prix Gold event.

It is now classed as a Super 500 competition following the recent re-branding of the BWF World Tour.

In the men’s singles draw, reigning world champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark is the top seed.

His first-round opponent is South Korea’s Lee Hyun Il.

Three-time world and Olympic silver medallist Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia is the second seed and will start his quest for glory against Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto.

China’s Chen Long and South Korea’s Son Wan Ho are seeded third and fourth respectively.

Olympic champion Chen’s opening match is against Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, while Son will face a qualifier.

Defending champion Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong is seeded seventh and has Malaysia’s Wei Feng Chong standing between him and a place in the second round.

Action in Bukit Jalil is due to conclude on Sunday (January 21).

Men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles events are also scheduled to be held.