Saina Nehwal to begin World Championship campaign Wednesday

Guangzhou (China), Aug 6 (IANS) India’s top shuttler Saina Nehwal will start her World Championship campaign Wednesday when she takes on Olga Golovanova at the Tianhe Indoor Stadium here.

The third seed had received a first round bye and will take on the World No.66 Russian for the first time in a second round women’s singles match.

P.V. Sindhu, seeded 10th, also got a first round bye and faces an easy task against Japan’s Kaori Imabeppu. The Hyderabadi had beaten Kaori in her own backyard in their only encounter yet at the Japan Open last year.

After upsetting Hong Kong’s 12th seed Wing Ki Wong Monday, Ajay Jayaram will be up against Spaniard Pablo Abian in their second round men’s singles match. The Mumbai lad has a 1-1 record against the World No.88 Spain international.

Meanwhile, India’s 13th seed Parupalli Kashyap will be taking on Czech shuttler Petr Koukal for a place in the pre-quarters. This will be the first ever meet between the two.

After the disappointment in women’s and mixed doubles Monday, India will start their men’s doubles campaign when Tarun Kona and Arun Vishnu take on Indonesian 15th seeds Alvent Yulianto Chandra and Markis Kido.

They are the last Indian doubles pair left in the tourney after Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar withdrew because the former is nursing an injury.

No Indian shuttler was in action Tuesday.