Saina Nehwal, Jwala Gutta to skip Korea Open

India's badminton queen Saina Nehwal and celebrated doubles player Jwala Gutta will miss next week's Korea Open Superseries scheduled to be held from September 15 to 20

Tokyo: India's badminton queen Saina Nehwal and celebrated doubles player Jwala Gutta will miss next week's Korea Open Superseries scheduled to be held from September 15 to 20.


Saina Nehwal. Pic/AFP 

The 25-year-old, who clinched the silver medal at the World Championship and regained her World No 1 status last month, did not send her entry for the USD 600,000 tournament, while Jwala has decided to give the event a miss as she is suffering from fever.

"Hit by viral fever cold cough... Most horrible feeling ever..will be pulling out of Korean open too..hope to get back ASAP!!" Jwala wrote on her twitter handle yesterday.

Olympic bronze medallist Saina is currently playing at the Japan Super Series and has reached the second round of the event beating Thailand's Busanan Ongbumrungpan 21-14 22-20 and will next take on Japan's Minatsu Mitani, an opponent against whom the Indian has a 5-2 record.

Jwala, however, suffered a loss along with her women's doubles partner Ashwini Ponnappa in the first round as they suffered a 20-22 21-18 13-21 defeat to eighth seeds Zhao Yunlei and Zhong Qianxin of China in a 54-minute match.

"Sad that we lost today.The match was good though. @Guttajwala played really well despite being so sick. hope you well soon partner," Ashwini tweeted. All the other top players, including Kidambi Srikanth and Parupalli Kashyap, PV Sindhu and H S Prannoy will take part in Korea Open.

While Sindhu, who lost in the first round today, will spearhead Indian challenge in women's singles in absence of Saina, N Sikki Reddy and Pradnya Gadre will represent India in women's doubles catagory.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!