Saina Nehwal, Srikanth eye encore

Saina Nehwal and K. Srikanth will look to shrug off a recent dip in form and put their best foot forward when they begin their campaign as defending champions at the $700,000 China Open Super Series Premier, that starts with the qualifiers in Fuzhou on Tuesday.

Saina, 25, had been suffering from an abdominal pain that led to early exits at the Japan, Denmark and France Super Series. Also there is an issues with her Achilles heel but the Indian is upbeat about a good show here.

“I had some abdominal pain and little discomfort in my heel but now I am fine. I trained harded in the last few weeks and I am really looking forward to the tournament. It is an Olympic year and it is an important event. I will give my best,” said Saina.

The top seeded Indian will take on China’s Sun Yu in the opening round. Even though Saina has a 4-1 record against the Chinese with the only defeat coming in the 2013 China Open in Shanghai, the world no. 11 might prove to be a formidable opponent. P.V. Sindhu, who reached the final of the Denmark Open, will open against Russian Ksenia Polika-rpova.

In the men’s singles, Srikanth too had been troubled by injury and poor form ever since he stood on the podium at the India Open Superseries in New Delhi. The Hyder-abadi had to skip the Asian Championship because of a shin pain before making early exits at Japan, Korea, Denmark and France.

The fifth seeded Indian will take on Hu Yun of Hong Kong. Parupalli Kashyap will be missing after being sidelined by a torn calf muscle. H.S. Prannoy and Ajay Jayaram will however look to get some good results.