Saina, Chetan to spearhead Indian challenge Syed Modi

Lucknow: Ace shuttlers Saina Nehwal and Chetan Anand will spearhead the Indian challenge in the Jaypee Cup Syed Modi International Grand Prix, which gets underway at

the UP Badminton Academy here tomorrow. Around 145 shuttlers, including 35 foreigners, will be vying for top honours in the USD 50,000 event to be organised jointly by the Uttar Pradesh Badminton Association and the state government. World number eight Saina will lead the Indian charge in the women`s singles which will see some young guns like Sikki Reddy, Sayali Gokhale and PC Tulasi rubbing shoulders with international players like Indonesian Fransiska Ratnasari and Jeanine Cicognini. The men`s singles event will feature Chetan Anand, Olympian Anup Sridhar, Arvind Bhatt, P Kashyap, Anand Pawar, and RMV Gurusaidatt. The six-day season ending tournament will also give an opportunity to Indian mixed doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and V Diju to end the year on a high. Three-time World Champion and Olympic gold medallist Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia is also be participating in the event as a `guest player` and he will play show matches on December 19 and 20. The UP Badminton Association will also facilitate Saina, national coach Pullela Gopichand, Sridhar, Jwala, Chetan and Diju for their contributions in recent years. PTI