HYDERABAD: India’s big hope Saina Nehwal has been seeded sixth in the women’s singles in the World Badminton Championship that will be held at SAAP Indoor Stadium in Gachibowli from August 10 to 16.
Saina is currently sixth in the new rankings released by International Badminton Federation (IBF).
“It has gone according to the world ranking as there was no withdrawal,” said Pullela Gopi Chand, chief national coach. Zhou Mi of Hong Kong will be the top seed in women’s singles while Lin Wang is seeded second.
In the men’s singles, Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia gets the top billing while Jin Chen of China is second seeded.
Olympic champion Lin Dan is seeded fifth behind Peter Gade (Denmark) and Taufiq Hidayat (Indonesia), winner of 2009 India Open Grand Prix Gold.
India’s Chetan Anand is seeded 15th while 2008 India Open winner Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand is seeded 16th. India’s mixed doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and V Diju, who are ranked seventh in the new IBF rankin gs, are seeded eighth in the World Championship. The draw ceremony will be held on July 21.
SEEDINGS
Men: 1. Lee Chong Wei (Mas), 2. Jin Chen (China), 3. Peter Gade (Denmark), 4. Taufiq Hidayat (Indonesia), 5. Lin Dan (China).
Women: 1. Zhou Mi (Hong Kong), 2. Lin Wang (China), 3. Tine Rasmussen (Denmark), 4. Yihan Wang (China), 5. Xie Xingfang (China).