Saina, Jwala to miss NSCI Badminton

Mumbai: Top national shuttlers -- Saina Nehwal, Jwala Gutta, P V Sindhu, Arvind Bhat and Chetan Anand

-- will not take part in the NSCI All India Senior Ranking Badminton Tournament to be held here from August 27-31. "Saina (women`s world no. 5) is not taking part because of her schedule of preparations for the London Olympics, while (world championship women`s doubles bronze winner) Jwala Gutta would also be absent as the tournament clashes with the Arjuna Awards ceremony in New Delhi on August 29," said Pradeep Gandhe, president of the Maharashtra Badminton Association. "P V Sindhu had earlier entered the event but then withdrew (to prepare for the Youth Commonwealth Games in the Isle of Man from September 7). Bhat is recovering from an injury and Anand is busy fulfilling contractual obligations for his club in Europe. "All other top players of the country are taking part in the tournament as their performance will be considered for selection in the Indian team for participation in the forthcoming international tournaments," he added. at a media conference to announce details of the tournament. Among the leading shuttlers, who would participate at the National Sports Club of India`s air-conditioned courts for Rs 5 lakh event, are national men`s and women`s champions, world no 23 Parupalli Kashyap and world no 133 Aditi Mutatkar, it was announced at a media conference here today. Apart from Kashyap, Ajay Jayaram, Anup Sridhar and India`s number one ranked player among men -- Sourabh Varma -- would also be amongst 32 men who are participating in the tournament. Other than Aditi, the women`s draw would include Arundhati Pantawane, the National Games singles champion Neha Pandit and former national champion Sayali Gokhale. PTI