Saina Nehwal set for World Super Series Finals

Saina Nehwal

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS)

Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth look set to qualify for the prestigious year-ending World Super Series Finals to be held in Dubai from 17^th to 21^st December.

The $1 million tournament sees the top-8 players in each of the sport's five categories compete for the titles. Points are calculated throughout the season, taking into count the 12 Super Series events happening all round the year.

Olympic bronze medallist Saina is the only Indian to have qualified for the event in the past, having also played the summit clash in 2011, and is most likely confirmed for the 2014 edition. Having won two Super Series events this season - Australian Open and China Open - she is now positioned at No.5 and will likely go to Dubai.

Srikanth on the other hand is set to become only the second Indian to play in the year-ender. His China Open victory Sunday elevated him Thursday to No.6 position of the Super Series rankings and is also likely to travel to the Middle East.

Though Parupalli Kashyap also jumped three places to be ranked at No.11 Thursday, his Wednesday's loss at the last Super Series tournament of the year - Hong Kong Open - stops him from competing in Dubai.

The same is the case with two-time World Championship bronze medallist P.V. Sindhu. Though she bagged the medal at the Worlds, she failed to make a mark consistently in Super Series events because of which she is currently ranked No.16.

Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa are at No.17 in the women's doubles list and also won't make the event.