"It's a unique experience to come to a new course to defend my title. I'm not very familiar with Enhance Anting, so I'll make the most of the practice days to fine tune my strategy, focus on every shot and work towards the goals I've set for myself before the tournament," said Ji, who hails from Dalian, Liaoning province.

Last year, Ji won by a tournament-record nine strokes in Xiamen, and said lifting her national championship title gave her fledgling professional career a massive boost. "Winning the Women's China Open was a special moment, but I know every year is a new challenge with a strong field. No matter the result, I want to make sure I compete with my full commitment. I'll stay focused and hopefully make everyone proud," said Ji, who has won once this season and enters the week ranked No 5 on the CLPG Tour Order of Merit.

Ye Lei, 24, is excited at the prospect of challenging for a second Women's China Open following her maiden professional victory in the 2023 edition. She recalls with great fondness her lone triumph on the CLPG Tour.

"That tournament was truly unforgettable. I was thrilled that my first professional win came from such a top-tier event as the Women's China Open. It was a great recognition for me. I'm very happy to be back home. I hope I can stay composed throughout the tournament and give my best performance," said Ye.