India to field strong team at World C’ships

Jakarta, July 28

India will be fielding its biggest and strongest team at the World Badminton Championships, providing them their best chance of winning medals at the prestigious tournament next month.

It is for the first time that two top 5 players — Saina Nehwal (world No. 2) and Kidambi Srikanth (world No. 3) — will lead the Indian charge at the championships that begin in  Jakarta on August 10.

Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa had ended India’s 28-year-old medal drought at the championships when they won the women’s doubles bronze in 2011 and then PV Sindhu clinched the singles bronze twice. 

However, Olympic bronze medallist Saina has not been able to progress beyond the quarterfinals stage.

Only the top 50 players in the world are eligible to participate. — PTI