Chinese challenge for Saina Nehwal at Jakarta

Saina has a 3-1 record against Sato,the only loss being at the Korea Open last year. Once she crosses the first hurdle,the Indian will play a qualifier in second round but her real challenge will start from the quarters,where she may play third seed Chinese Shixian Wang.

“Indonesia would be very tough … all the Chinese would be there. It would depend on that particular day and how you are feeling. I can’t promise a title but I can promise to give my best,” Saina said.

Indonesia Open will also see the return of other Olympic bound shuttlers such as P Kashyap,Jwala Gutta,Ashwini Ponnappa and V Diju. In men’s singles,Parupalli Kashyap will be up against Guatemalan Kevin Cordon but the Indian has a tough draw as he will meet top seed and world number three Chen Long of China in the second round. The only Indian who will compete in two events in the Olympics,Jwala Gutta also has a tough task at hand in the mixed and women’s doubles competition.

Jwala and V Diju will open their campaign against Yeon Seong Yoo and Ye Na Jang. The Korean pair had beaten the Indian combo in the China Masters last year.

She will also pair with Ashwini in women’s doubles and the combo will have a tougher competitor in their opening round in second seed Chinese Qing Tian and Yunlei Zhao.

Among others,Ajay Jayaram will take on Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the opening round,while rising shuttler P V Sindhu will face off Maria Febe Kusumastuti of Indonesia.

In mixed doubles competition,Tarun Kona and Ashwini will take on Riky Widianto and Puspita Richi Dili of Indonesia,while Tarun Kona and Arun Vishnu will be up against third seed Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen of Denmark. In women’s doubles,Pradnya Gadre and Prajakta Sawant will meet a qualifier in the opening round at Jakarta.