Saina, Praneeth eye titles at Thailand Open

TIL Desk Sports/ Saina Nehwal and B Sai Praneeth will start favourites when India begin their campaign at the USD 120,000 Thailand Grand Prix Gold, starting with the qualifiers here tomorrow.

After missing the Sudirman Cup mixed team championship to attend to her ailing father, Saina will be itching to add another GPG title to her kitty after claiming the Malaysia Masters early in the year.

Seeded second, Saina will open her campaign against unheralded Martina Repiska of Slovakia and the World No. 10 should reach the quarters without breaking a sweat.

A few good players — Canada’s Michelle Li and fourth seeded local player Busanan Ongbamrungphan — are in the second half of the draw.

If Saina can reach the finals then perhaps former world champion and top seed Ratchanok Intanon will be standing between her and the title.