Indian players have a tough draw in the rescheduled World badminton championships, to be held in Birmingham from July 28 to August 3, as all of them are pitted against higher-ranked opponents in the first round.

Men's national champion Abhinn Shyam Gupta faces third seed and bronze medalist at the 2001 event Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia while top Indian player Nikhil Kanetkar, ranked 66, will play 21st ranked Peter Rasmussen of Denmark in his opening match, according to the draw released by the
International Badminton Federation on Friday.

The event, earlier scheduled to be held in May, was postponed due to the SARS scare.

Kanetkar has 10th seed Ronald Susiko of Singapore as his potential opponent in the second round.

In the women's section, national champion Aparna Popat - ranked 35 - will take on 25th ranked Wan Ting Ling of Hong Kong while Trupti Murgunde, who was given a last minute entry into the championship following withdrawal of some players, will take on Spain's top player Dolores Marco.

If they clear the first round hurdles, Popat may run into 10th seed Kyeung Ran Kim of Korea while Murgunde may have to clash against 1998 Commonwealth champion and 15th seed Kelly Morgon of Wales.

Murgunde's participation in the event still depends on the completion of her visa formalities.

In the men's doubles, Jaseel P Ismail and Jaison Xavier will challenge the 9th seeded pair of Tadashi Ohtsuka and Keita Masuda of Japan while V Diju and Sanave Thomas will take on Sudket Prapakomal and Patapol Ngernsrisuk of Thailand.

In the women's doubles, Shruti Kurian and Jwala Gutta will play Johanna Persson and Elin Bergblom of Sweden.