Sindhu and Saina Preview Their Chances at World Championships

VIDEO | Saina Nehwal: I definitely feel the women’s draw is tougher than the men’s.

PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal have both won medals earlier at the Badminton World Championships

(Photo: IANS)

Olympic silver medallist P.V. Sindhu, a hungry Saina Nehwal and a reinvigorated Kidambi Srikanth will be in focus when the World Badminton Championships begin in Glasgow on Monday.

Sindhu, seeded fourth, will be one of the favourites in the women's singles and the 22-year-old's big tournament temperament will help her handle the pressure.

The double World Championships bronze medallist has continued her impressive display even after the Rio Games 2016. She has won the 2016 China Open and 2017 India Open in style.

The lanky shuttler has got a bye in the opening round and will meet the winner between South Korea’s Kim Hyo Min and Egypt’s Hadia Hosny for a place in the pre-quarterfinals.

"I have two bronze medals from World Championships. I want the colour of my medal to change this time," Sindhu said before the start of the tournament.

Her illustrious citymate, Saina, however, is coming off with some low-key performances and though the expectation is less from her, the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist will be eager to prove her mettle again against the younger opponents.

Saina, who had claimed the only silver for India at the World Championships in 2015, underwent right knee surgery after a devastating outing at the Rio Olympic and since then she has not been able to regain her strength fully. Barring a Malaysia Masters title, there's not much to be talked about her success post-Rio.

Having fallen behind in the pecking order, the 27-year-old has been seeded 12th and got a bye in the first round. She will meet either Switzerland's Sabrina Jaquet or Ukraine's Natalya Voytsekh in the Round of 32.