World Championships: 8 Indian shuttlers qualify

Kuala Lumpur, July 22: Rising badminton powerhouse India have secured four qualifiers each in men's singles and women's singles competitions for next month's prestigious World Championships.

India achieved their full quota of four women's singles players with National champion Rituparna Das and Tanvi Lad qualifying behind PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal.

China, Japan and India are the only three countries with four representatives in women's Singles.

In men's singles, Syed Modi International champion and last year's Hong Kong Super Series runners-up Sameer Verma secured his place alongside compatriots Ajay Jayaram, Kidambi Srikanth and Sai Praneeth.

Other countries with four qualifiers in men's singles are China, Denmark and Hong Kong.

China will bank upon reigning champion Chen Long (wild card), five-time winner Lin Dan, Shi Yuqi and Tian Houwei, while Denmark's young prospect Anders Antonsen plays the biggest event of his fledgling career alongside senior compatriots Viktor Axelsen, Jan O Jorgensen and Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus.

Hong Kong too have a strong men's singles squad, with the likes of Ng Ka Long, Wong Wing Ki, Hu Yun and sixth reserve Wei Nan having qualified.

Powerhouse China have secured the maximum representation of four qualifiers in each of the five categories at the upcoming TOTAL BWF World Championships, but will miss the services of two-time runner-up Li Xuerui, who is still recovering from an injury sustained at the Rio Olympics.

The BWF World Championships will be held in Emirates Arena, Glasgow, from August 21 to 27.

PTI