Liam Pitchford has been handed the toughest draw for the World Championships in Doha and will face world No 1 Lin Shidong of China in the first round.

Pitchford’s name came out in the draw next to the top seed in the Round of 128 and the match will take place on the opening weekend of the Championships on 17-18 May.

Pitchford is no stranger to facing Chinese opposition at the World Championships, having met Liang Jingkun in one of the best matches of the 2021 edition in Houston, which he ultimately lost 4-3 (14-12, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 3-11, 11-4).

Tom Jarvis, England’s only other representative in the Men’s Singles, will face Benedek Olah of Finland in the first round, with the winner likely to face 10th seed Dang Qiu of Germany.

Pitchford may reflect on the gods being against him as he and Anna Hursey have also been drawn to face the top seeds in the Mixed Doubles – meaning Lin Shidong is again in opposition, alongside his partner, Kuai Man.

England’s representatives in the Men’s Doubles are Pitchford & Connor Green and they have been drawn to face South Korean pair Jang Woojin & Cho Daeseong.

That match will see the two Men’s Singles champions from WTT Feeder Manchester in opposition – Cho won last year and Pitchford of course won this year’s title last weekend.

Hursey also won gold in Manchester, lifting her to No 77 in the world. She is in the Women’s Singles in Doha, where she has been drawn to play Amy Wang (WR 75) of the USA, with the winner likely to face world No 4 Wang Yidi of China.

Hursey & Charlotte Carey form an all-Welsh partnership in the Women’s Doubles and their first-round opponents are Ng Wing Lam & Zhu Chengzhu of Hong Kong, the sixth seeds.

The championships get under way on Saturday 17 May with the first rounds of all competitions being held across the first two days of the event. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for details of the schedule when available.