Defending champion Ji Yuai seeks to retain trophy at Women's China Open

Title-holder Ji Yuai of China will aim to become only the third player to successfully defend the Women's China Open title when the CLPG Tour's flagship tournament begins on Friday.

The 20-year-old Ji, who is the reigning CLPG Tour No 1 and a four-time winner, headlines a top field at the famed Enhance Anting Golf Club in Shanghai, which includes the country's emerging youth brigade and aspiring stars from Southeast Asia.

Current CLPG Tour Order of Merit Leader Wang Zixuan, 2023 Women's China Open winner Ye Lei, and teenage talent such as Xu Ying, Zhou Shiyuan and Liu Yujie will be among the top Chinese players determined to keep the prestigious trophy on home soil, with the last three editions of the Women's China Open being won by home-grown golfers.

Thailand's Sherman Santiwiwattanaphong, who is currently No 2 on the Order of Merit, will spearhead the international charge, which includes Malaysia's Ng Jing Xuen, Singapore's Amanda Ta, and Indonesia's Holly Victoria Halim, winner of the CLPG Tour Qualifying School earlier this year.

With the tournament moving to Shanghai for the first time since its inauguration in 2006, defending champion Ji is cautiously charting her strategy to ensure she has every chance of joining South Korea's Shin Ji-yai (2006/2007) and Kim Hye-youn (2010/2011) as the tournament's third back-to-back champion.