Saina Nehwal set to defend Australian Open title

The $7,50,000 Australian open Badminton Superseries has a lot to offer this time around. It is the first Superseries event offering Olympic qualification points towards dreams of competing in Rio de Janeiro, which is the main reason it has attracted all big stars from the world of badminton. Apart from the Olympic qualification, players will also have their eyes set on Dubai open Superseries finals where top 8 players & teams in each category according Badminton world Federation rankings will be invited.

World no-1 Saina Nehwal has been seeded 2nd, last year she defeated Carolina Marin of Spain to win this prestigious tournament, while P. V. Sindhu, ranked 12, is unseeded in the tournament and has to face a very tough opening match against the former World Champion Wang Yihan of China. Saina will compete against Cheah Lyddia Yi Yu of Malaysia in the 1st round to defend the title.

In the men’s category, World no – 4 Kidambi Srikanth, seeded 4th, will begin his campaign against Danish David Hans Kristian Vittinghus. World ranked – 13, Parupalli Kashyap too faces an uphill task as he will square up against Chinese sixth seed Wang Zhengming, who has beaten the Indian four times during their five meetings in the past. RMV Gurusaidutt too has a challenging 1st round to face against Chen Long of China.

In the women’s doubles Commonwealth gold medalist pair of Jwala Gutta & Ashwini Ponappa will meet Samantha Barning & Iris Tling of Netherlands in the 1st round, while Akshay Davalkar & Praanav Jerry Chopra will lock horns against Chinese pair of Cai Yun & Kang Jun in the men’s doubles. Ashwini and Praanav Jerry Chopra will take on Choi Solgyu & Eom Hye Won of Japan in the mixed doubles.

Stay tuned for more updates.