After an impressive outing in the 2015 World Championships, Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal will showcase her skills in the upcoming Japan Open, which starts on 8 August.
Top women shuttlers such as Carolina Marin, Wang Shixian and Li Xuerui will be in action during the competition, which makes it an interesting event.
However, Indians Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu have been drawn in the same half of the draw, which increases a Nehwal vs Sindhu clash in the second round of the Japan Open.
If both the Indian shuttlers win their respective first round matches against Thailand's Busanan Ongbumrungpan and Japan's Minatsu Mitani, they are going to face one another for a spot in the quarter finals of the Japan Open.
Though Saina might find it easy against Busanan Ongbumrungpan, Sindhu will have to be on top of her game against 18th ranked Japanese Minatsu Mitani, who has won titles such as the French Open Super Series in 2012 along with International Challenge Series in 2011 as well.
PV Sindhu can take inspiration from her amazing performance in the world championships as the Indian also defeated former world number one Li Xuerui en route to the last four stage.
Saina and Sindhu have been representing India for quite some time in the international circuit with the former enjoying a huge success against other players, but the Indian duo have faced one another only once in the finals of the 2014 Indian Grand Prix Gold final, where Saina defeated countrywoman Sindhu in straight sets, 21-14 and 21-17.
If an all Indian clash takes place in the second round, it is going to be an interesting one as Sindhu, who loves to play an attacking brand of badminton, will be eying revenge after her loss in the finals, while Saina will use her experience and technical strategy to get better results.
The winner of the match could possibly face Indonesia's Ratchanok Intanon in the quarter finals.
In the men's category, third seed Kidambi Srikanth will face Scot Evans in the first round, while Parupalli Kashyap will take on Takuma Ueda in the first round. However, India's Ajay Jayaram has a tough match against seventh seed Viktor Axelsen. HS Prannoy will face Wong Wing Ki Vincent from Hongkong.
Ironically, all men shuttlers are in the bottom half of the draw.
