China faces stiff competition if it is to repeat its London 2012 Olympic Games clean sweep of all five badminton gold medals at the Rio 2016 Games.

Men's singles No.1 seed Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia will make his fourth and final bid to deliver a maiden Olympic Games badminton gold medal for Malaysia. The twice beaten finalist returned to the top of the world rankings from a backdated doping ban which sidelined him for six months until 1 May 2015 .

"I feel more pressure on my shoulders as after the next four years I think I have no chance," Lee said.

If he is to win a first Olympic badminton gold for Malaysia he may need to get past fellow four-time Olympian Lin Dan of China, who beat him in the final at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games. This time, they are in the same half of the draw - meaning they can only meet in the semifinals.

China is also facing a threat to its dominance from the other side of the world. There has been a European resurgence in badminton, led by Spanish world and European champion Carolina Marin in women's singles and several players from Denmark, who took the coveted Thomas Cup team trophy away from Asia for the first time in May.

"I am in my best moment, the best shape of my life," Marin said. "I have had very hard trainings; the hardest of my life and I find myself feeling very good."

Lee Chong Wei and Carolina Marin confirmed as top seeds for badminton

The Danish challenge will be spearheaded by No.4 and 5 seeds Viktor Axelsen and Jan O Jorgensen in men's singles, and Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen in the mixed doubles.

Veteran Lee Yong Dae of Republic of Korea will aim to improve on his London 2012 men's doubles bronze medal after climbing to the top of the world rankings with new partner Yoo Yeon Seong.

The Rio 2016 badminton competition begins on Thursday (11 August).