Exactly a year ago, to be precise on November 16, 2014, Indian badminton had seen one of its best ever days. Two Indians — Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth — triumphed in the singles and that too in China, the powerhouse of world badminton.
The icing on the cake was the victory of Srikanth over Chinese legend Lin Dan in the men’s singles final, that too in straight games.
However, this time around both Saina and Srikanth will have to rise to the occasion to defend their titles in the China Open Super Series Premier which will get underway at the Haixia Olympic Sports Centre in Fuzhou on Tuesday.
Fitness issues and lack of form have been bothering Saina as well as Srikanth as they prepare themselves to defend the titles. Although Saina has now slipped to world No. 2, the Indian has been given the top billing. The London Olympics bronze medallist will clash with Sun Yu of China in the opening round. Saina has a solid 4-1 record against the local girl but she cannot take the world No. 11 lightly.
If Saina wins the first couple of rounds, she will run into Ratchanok Intanon in the quarterfinals. The former world champion from Thailand has been proving to be nemesis for the Hyderabadi this year.
PV Sindhu is in the bottom half of the 32-player draw. The tall and lanky shuttler will take on Russia’s Ksenia Polikarpova in the first round. Sindhu is expected to clear the first round but she will have one of the Wangs — Wang Shixian – waiting for her in the second round. Notwithstanding Sindhu is optimistic about good show.
“The draw is fine for me. I have to give my best to make progress in the tough field. I have an equal record against Shixian,” said Sindhu.
The draw is tough for all the three Indians particularly Ajay Jayaram, who is facing top seed Chen Long in Round 1. Ajay lost in the final of Korea Open Super Series against the world No. 1 Chinese few months ago. However, this time Ajay is raring to reverse the result.
“I played him (Long) in the Korean Open final but lost. Definitely it is a tough opener, but I am feeling positive and am looking forward to the big challenge,” said Ajay after Monday’s practice session.
Srikanth will square off against Hu Yun of Hong Kong. The fifth seeded Indian has a 2-1 record against Yun but he lost to him in their last outing at the World Championship in August.
“I know I am not in the best form this season but it happens. I have prepared well for this tournament. I am determined to defend my crown,” said Srikanth.
HS Prannoy is also in the bottom half along with his Gopichand Academy training partner Srikanth and will meet one of the four qualifiers in the first round. The well-built Kerala lad became only the second Indian after Srikanth to defeat Lin Dan at the French Open last month.
Injured Parupalli Kashyap has to withdraw from the tournament because of a tear in his calf muscle. Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa will take on Japanese pair Naoko Fukuman and Kurumi Yonao in the women’s doubles opening round. The qualifiers will be held on Tuesday before the real action begins on Wednesday.