JOIN USWorld number six Saina Nehwal will spearhead the Indian challenge in the prestigious tournament, which will also see China’s woman world champion Lu Lan, Hong Kong’s Zhou Mi, China’s Wang Shixian and Indonesian Maria Kristin Yulianti vying for top honours.
“As many as 334 players from 21 nations will compete in the championships that will come to India for the fourth time and to Delhi for the first time after Hyderabad (1976 and 2000) and Kolkata (1983) hosted it,” Badminton Association of India president VK Verma said.
Besides, Taufik and Dan, the men’s singles draw will feature Ponsana Boonsak of Thailand and 2007 Asian Junior Champion Chen Long, while Chetan Anand will lead the Indian campaign.
India recently qualified for the Thomas and Uber Cup finals in Malaysia for the first time, which saw the nation being ranked number seven in world team charts.
Verma said with India doing well, more international tournaments will be hosted in the country and it will become the new hub of badminton in the world.