World champion H. Hendrawan of Indonesia was beaten in qualifying on Tuesday for the All England badminton tournament where the first round proper gets under way on Wednesday.

Hendrawan's form has dipped badly since his world title triumph in Seville in 2001 and he found himself obliged to qualify for the All Englands, sometimes known as the Wimbledon of badminton.

Hendrawan began his bid for a place in the main draw with a 15-10, 13-15, 15-6 win over Magnus Repsgard of Sweden in a 50-minute contest.

But he looked a shadow of his former self in losing to Yohan Wiratama of Hong Kong 13-15, 15-12, 7-15 in 81 minutes.

Hendrawan said: "I am a little annoyed that I am having to qualify but I understand the ranking system so I accept the decision."

The Indonesian has only reached one quarter-final since his Seville triumph and Tuesday's defeat represents another big disappointment.

He joins two other notable absentees when the tournament proper begins.

European and ex-world champion Peter Rasmussen of Denmark was forced out with an injured ankle earlier in the week and India's Pulella Gopichand, All England winner in 2001, is still recovering from keyhole surgery on his right knee.

Despite the absence of such big names, reigning All England champion Chen Hong of China still faces a tricky path if he is to reach Sunday's final.

TOUGH DRAW

The 23-year-old top seed is set to meet newly-crowned Malaysian national champion Lee Chong Wei in the second round before a last 16 clash with either compatriot and ninth seed Bao Chunlai, or 1999 All England champion Peter Gade of Denmark.

Number two seed, China Open champion Wong Choong Hann, has a rather easier journey to the semi-finals, but then faces a likely meeting with compatriot Xia Xuanze, the 2000 All England champion,

In the women's singles, China also hold a strong hand, headed by 22-year-old world champion Gong Ruina, petite but powerful.

Denmark's Camilla Martin took the title last year after beating four Chinese in succession. The draw has been a little kinder this time round but from the quarter-finals onwards European faces look sure to be thin on the ground.

On the scoring side, the tournament, an International Badminton Federation event, will use the 3x11 (best of three sets, first to 11 points) in the women's and mixed doubles, rather than 3x15 or 5x9 favoured by host country England who have raised the spectre of sex discrimination.

The wrangle, which has pre-occupied the sport, should be settled at a special meeting next month during the world team championships in Eindhoven in The Netherlands.