India's only representatives at the year-ending Dubai World Superseries Finals 2017 - PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth - have been handed easy draws for the group stages.
The tournament, consisting of eight top-ranked players in each of the five categories, will be played in Dubai between December 13 and 17.
Fourth seed Sindhu, who made the semi-finals of the tournament last year, has been drawn in Group A of women's singles alongside top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, sixth seed He Bingjiao of China and eighth seed Sayaka Sato.
Notably, the Indian shuttler's nemeses Carolina Marin and Nozomi Okuhara pulled out of the tournament, citing injuries.
Meanwhile, world number one and defending champion Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei will headline Group B, which also has third seed Sung Ji Hyun of Korea, fifth seed Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand and seventh seed Chen Yufei of China.
Srikanth avoids Chen, Chong Wei
On the other hand, second seed Srikanth, who will be making his third appearance at the tournament, has avoided the likes of former world number one players Chen Long and Lee Chong Wei.
He has been drawn in Group B of men's singles alongside reigning world champion and holder Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, Shi Yuqi and Chou Tien Chen of China.
Chen and Chong Wei will take on top seed Son Wan Ho and sixth seed Ng Ka Long in the five-day-long tournament in Dubai.
Women's singles draw
Sindhu's record against group opponents
Vs Sayaka Sato: 2-1 (2017: 2-0)
Vs Akane Yamaguchi 4-2 (2017: 1-1)
Vs He Bingjiao 4-5 (2017: 1-1)
Men's singles draw
Srikanth's record against group opponents
Vs Viktor Axelsen: 3-3 (2017: 1-2)
Vs Shi Yuqi: 3-0 (2017: 2-0)
Vs Chou Tien Chen: 1-1 (2017: NA)
Check out the doubles draw below
