Saina focuses on Superseries Finals success

New Delhi: World number six Saina Nehwal will want to kick-start her preparations for the 2014 season with a confident showing at the year-ending BWF World Superseries finals in Kuala Lumpur that begins on Wednesday.

The London Olympic bronze medallist had a forgettable 2013 due to injuries. But Saina has been in rigourous preparation for the year-end tournament which has the top-8 performers from the 12event Super Series circuit fac ing off for the winner's purse of $40,000.

“I have worked hard and pre pared well for the tourna ment. I feel I am ready to challenge in Kuala Lumpur,“ said the only Indian player to have qualified for the grand finale.

The 2010 Commonwealth Gold medallist made the grade as the second highest ranked player, thanks to her three semi-final appearances on the Super Series circuit.

According to the format of the tournament, the top eight players would be divided in two groups and the top two from each group will qualify for the semis. Saina, seeded second, has been clubbed with London Olympic gold medallist and defending champion Li Xuerui, Korea's Yeon Ju Bae and Japan's Minatsu Mitani in Group B.

She opens her campaign against Mitani on Wednesday and will face Li the next day.