Saina faces a tough start

Saina Nehwal will face a tough opener in Japan Open Super Series starting in Tokya today. She will be up against World No.10 Yanjiao Jiang. This will be the third meeting between the two with the Chinese winning on both occasions.

Saina is rejuvenated and raring to go after a month long break. She feels she has trained hard in the last month and is confident of her chances against her Chinese opponent. Jiang has had a consistent year, reaching the semi-finals at the All England and finishing runners-up at the Swiss Open Super Series. Saina feels she will have to be on top of her game in terms of attack and defence today. She had identified her oppenents soft drop shots and her forehand crosscourt drop shots as major threats.

In the men’s singles, due to the absence of senior shuttlers like Chetan Anand and Arvind Bhat, P.Kashyap will lead India’s challenge in the event. Mixed doubles pair Jwala Gutta and V Diju will be aiming for a second title, following their success at the Chinese Taipei Grand Prix Gold event.