The World Badminton Championship starts in London tomorrow. India's ace shuttler Saina Nehwal has got a bye in the first round. The World Number 6 is likely to take on Adrianti Firdasari in the second. Saina has a 2-2 record against the Indonesian. The 21-year-old, who reached the quarterfinals in the last two editions of the mega-event, has been troubled by an ankle injury this year, but is completely fit now after undergoing rigorous preparation for the event. In the men's singles, P Kashyap and Ajay Jayaram will lead the challenge in the prestigious tournament, which is also a dress rehearsal for the London Olympics next year. Jayaram, who is playing his first World Championship,will be up against 15th seed Kenichi Tago of Japan in the opening round. World number 28 Kashyap will open his campaign at the Wembley Arena against German Dieter Domke, whom he has beaten thrice in the past. India's top doubles team of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa will open their campaign against Malaysian pair of Eva Lee and Paula Lynn Obanana in the doubles competition. V Diju will return to international badminton after recovering from a back surgery and will pair up with Jwala in the mixed doubles competition. The 16th seeded Indian pair got a bye in the first round and will take on the winners between Malaysian duo of Jien Guo Ong and Sook Chin Chong and Min Chun Liao and Hsiao Huan Chen of Chinese Taipei in the second round. Indian men's doubles pair of Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas will take on Germany's Michael Fuchs and Oliver Roth. India's young pair of Pranav Chopra and Tarun Kona, playing their first World Championship, will take on Hung Ling Chen and Yu Lang Lin of Chinese Taipei tomorrow.
News On AIR | August 7, 2011 6:43 PM
World Badminton Championship starts from Monday in London