Slotted in different halves of the draw, World Championship Silver medallist PV Sindhu and CWG champion Saina Nehwal can only square off in the title round as the singles action in badminton begins, here on Thursday.
Third seed Sindhu will open her campaign against Vietnam's Thi Trang Vu while Saina has been pitted against Iran Soraya Aghaeihajiagha.
Sindhu is expected to have a smooth run till the semi-finals, where she might run into second seeded Japanese Akane Yamaguchi, whom she had beaten the Team event.
Saina though may have to contend with Thailand's fourth seed Ratchanok Intanon.
In the men's singles, India's best bet Kidambi Srikanth has got a bye in the first round but he may run into All England champion Wang Tzu Wei in the pre-quarterfinals.
He is up against Hong Kong's Wong Wing Ki Vincent in the second round. HS Prannoy has also got a first round bye and will play his first match against Kantaphon Wangcharoen of Thailand.
But he has Keno Momota and Chen long in his half, so it is not going to be a smooth ride for him.
Ashwini Ponappa and N Sikki Reddy will clash with Hong Kong's Ng Wing Yung and Yeung Nga Ting in the women's doubles.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will also play against Hong Kong pair of Chung Yonny and Tam Chun Hei.
‘splitting team failed’
Mumbai: India should not have split their regular women's doubles pair to accommodate two combinations in Asian Games badminton team event, feels ex-shuttler Uday Pawar.
Former international Pawar, a doubles specialist in his time, spoke out after both men's and women's teams crashed out after losing to their respective quarter final opponents by identical 1-3 margins, with both wins coming in singles.
"In ladies, they spilt the doubles combination, which was probably a mistake. Because in today's world, for any player to play two events, it is difficult," Pawar said.
"First (P V) Sindhu played singles and immediately after that to doubles; it is difficult," Pawar pointed out.
"In that sense, it is a sad commentary that we don't have anybody, no (effective) doubles combination besides the number one combination, which they had to spilt. It shows that we don't have number two combination at all (in ladies doubles)," rued Pawar, who runs an academy here.
On Tuesday, another former international Sanjay Sharma had also stressed the need to strengthen the doubles combinations.
According to former Thomas Cup captain Sharma, the worrying thing was that the country did not have a good doubles combination in ladies.
"So that is what we should be talking about; Gopi (Gopichand) as a national coach, what his lookout is (about it)," Sharma had said.
Ponappa usually partners with Siki Reddy.
But in the team event in Indonesia, while Ponappa partnered with Sindhu, Reddy was paired with Arathi Sunil and both the pairs lost their games.
In the must-win fourth rubber against Japan, India fielded the scratch combine of Rio Olympics women's singles silver medallist P V Sindhu and seasoned doubles specialist Ashwini Ponappa.
But the duo lost 13-21, 12-21 to reigning Olympic champions Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi, who were solid with their defence.
"We should have a number of good combinations by now. We don't have new players, which is shocking" said Pawar.
"The BAI is making a mistake by not having a separate doubles camp, where a lot of U-20 or U-22 players are allowed to train with top players," he said.
"If you want eight combinations, you should have at least 12-15 combinations practising with the national team in the national camp under the Malaysian coach.
(Badminton event starts from 10:30 am onwards)