The ruling world No.1 Chen Long will join top caliber shuttlers from 28 varying countries in different parts of the globe, including China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Denmark, and India, at the upcoming 2016 XiamenAir Australian Badminton Open in June as they make final preparations before the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in August.

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According to Xinhua, Badminton's highest-ranked player is facing tough competition as current world No. 3 and fellow Chinese Lin Dan is set to make amends for his shocking early departure from the 2015 tournament while the incumbent world No. 4 and European Champion Viktor Axelsen is looking to go one place better.

Chen is the men's singles event defending champion of the Sydney-based Badminton World Federation Superseries tournament. The two-time world champion Chinese ace defeated Viktor Axelsen of Denmark 21-12, 14-21, 21-18.

The entire draw will feature all the stars of the current top 10 of badminton, which includes women's doubles world No. 1 pair of Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahasi of Japan, recently crowned mixed doubles world champions Zhao Yunlei and Zhang Nan and reigning women's singles Olympic Champion Li Xuerui of China.

"For those who are not able to get to the Olympics, (the) Australian Open is basically the Olympics," tournament director Loke Poh Wong told reporters in Sydney. "All the best players are participating (here), are competing (here), and (it's) the last event before the Olympics."

Meanwhile, Australia's Gronya Somerville, who is considered the "next female badminton icon" told Xinhua that she and her doubles partner Setyana Mapasa were looking to beat some of the top pairs they will compete against on home soil.

"It's the biggest event in Australia and it's our pleasure to compete on home soil," the 20-year-old Somerville said.

The duo of Somerville and Setyana Mapasa, are now ranked 36 in the world.

The Australian Badminton Open, which boasts of a lucrative prize pool of 750,000 U.S. dollars, starts in Sydney on June 7 and will run until June 12.

TagsLin Dan, Chen Long, bwf 2016, bwf rankings, australian badminton open, Gronya Somerville