World No.11 Pallikal will be playing her first round match on Wednesday, and giving her company at the USD 120,000 WSA event will be another Indian and world No.19 Joshna Chinappa, who has drawn World No.4 Alison Waters of England in her opening game at the Nicol David International Squash Centre.
Pallikal, who had clinched her career's seventh WSA title in Macau Open last year after defeating former World number one Rachael Grinham of Australia, has not been able to maintain the same form in the year 2014.
Pallikal had been training in Australia with coach and five-time World Open winner Sarah Fitz-Gerald before leaving for Penang this morning.
Following three days of qualifying in the World Open, main draw action will take place on an all-glass showcourt at the SPICE Arena from Tuesday through to the final on Sunday.
The event had to be cancelled last year as it failed to find sponsors and hosts.
