DUBAI: Top shuttlers Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth will have a tough task at hand when they lead the Indian challenge in the season-ending BWF’s World Super Series final starting on Wednesday.
Brimming with confidence after their stupendous show at the China Super Series Premier, Saina and Srikanth will face an acid test as they will have to compete against the top eight shuttlers in their respective category in the season finale which will be hosted by the gulf city for the first time.
A tough draw awaits Saina as she has been clubbed with China’s Shixian Wang, Koreans Ji Hyun Sung and Yeon Ju Bae in Group A, while Srikanth has been handed a relatively easy draw with Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark, Kento Momoto of Japan and Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia in Group B.
However, both the shuttlers will have to play out of their skin as only two players from each group will qualify for the semifinals.
GROUPS:
MEN’S SINGLES:
Group A: Chen Long (China), Son Wan Ho (Korea), Kenichi Tago (Japan), Hans-Kristian Vittinghus (Denmark)
Group B: Jan O Jorgensen (Denmark), Kidambi Srikanth (India), Kento Momota (Japan), Tommy Sugiarto (Indonesia)
WOMEN’S SINGLES:
Group A: Wang Shixian (China), Saina Nehwal (India), Sung Ji Hyun (Korea), Bae Yeon Ju (Korea)
Group B: Wang Yihan (China), Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand), Tai Tzu Ying (Chinese Taipei), Akane Yamaguchi (Japan).