New Delhi: For the first time, the Yonex-Sunrise India Open Superseries will witness the creme da la creme of world badminton, including the world number one in both the men’s and the women’s singles, when the event starts at the Siri Fort Sports Complex here with the qualifiers on Tuesday.
Six of the top nine men and seven among the top-8 world ranked women shuttlers will be seen in action in the week-long tournament.
While Malaysia World No.1 Lee Chong Wei will return to defend his title, the highlight of this year’s event will be the presence of the Chinese stars. Top seed and Olympic champion Li Xuerui, reigning Asian Games and All England champion
Wang Shixian and former world champion Wang Yihan, all will be out to compete in the $250,000 prize money tournament.
However, women’s world champion and fourth seed Ratchanok Intanon and Thai fifth seed Bonnsak Ponsana pulled out with injuries on Monday, besides Japanese third seed Kenichi Tago.
Placed in the same half of the draw, eighth seed Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu, seeded ninth, will carry the home hopes in the women’s singles.
Both, however, have contrasting draws in their opening rounds. While Saina is expected to have it easy against Simone Prutsch of Austria, Sindhu will take on second seed Wang Shixian, an opponent whom she has beaten in all their three encounters including the recent Swiss Open.
In the men’s section, Thailand Grand Prix Gold winner K. Srikanth and Parupalli Kashyap will lead the charge for the hosts.
Kashyap, who had been troubled by a recurring shoulder injury, was confident ahead of his clash against Chinese sixth seed Wang Zhengming.
“I am hitting good form and rhythm. In the last few months, I think I am playing my best right now,” said the 24th-ranked Indian.
