Indian sports lovers would have the opportunity to watch some of the best badminton players in the world in action at the $120,000 Indian Open to be held in Hyderabad next month.

The Grand Prix championship, to be the first badminton competition of that level in the country, will feature three of the top 10 men players as well as six of the top 10 women, including the current top three in the world. “This will be an annual event from this year and would be rotated between different centres in the country,” Badminton Association of India president VK Verma said at the launch.

“All top badminton countries in the world have a tournament named after them — be it China, Indonesia, Korea or Malaysia. With the India Open, we have also joined the big league,” Verma said.

He said that there was every likelihood that the Grand Prix would be elevated to the level of a Super Series event, making it part of the most elite badminton circuit in the world.

“There are 12 Super Series events at the moment and the proposal is to increase the number to 14 by 2010. India would have the best chance to benefit from that decision,” the BAI chief said.

The significance of the Indian Open increases considerably as it is the penultimate tournament to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

“Anup Sridhar and Saina Nehwal are very likely to make the cut as also the women’s doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurien,” Verma said.

The lure of Olympic qualification has seen 230 players from 27 countries, including 36 Indians, confirm participation in the event. They include the Chinese trio of Bao Chunlai (World No 3), 2008 All England champion Chen Jin (No 4) and Chen Yu (No 9) among men, and the top three women — Xie Xingfang (No 1), Zhang Ning (No 2) and Lu Lan (No 3).

The draw for the tournament will be held on March 19 in Hyderabad.