Saina top seed at Syed Modi Indian Grand Prix

In men's singles, Olympics quarter-finalist P Kashyap is the top Indian, seeded second in the field. The other star attractions for the six-day Championship are 2010 CWG women's doubles gold-medallist Ashwini Ponnappa, London Olympics quarter-finalist Parupalli Kashyap and other leading names such as Ajay Jayram and Saurabh Verma.

India's teen sensation PV Sindhu will also feature in the in the women's section.

Overall, 150 top shuttlers from 12 countries, including hosts India, will clash for the top honours in singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories, being organised by the UP Badminton Association under the auspices of the Badminton Association of India (BAI).

The second-seeded Kashyap, who is returning to action after an injury, said, "I'm very excited and looking forward to see how I measure up here after my layoff due to injury. I hope to pick up some good points here and return to form on a high note. This is a prestigious tournament for all the Indian players. Personally, I will be hoping to strike rhythm for the Malaysian Open."

BAI President Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta said, "The India Grand Prix Gold Championship is increasingly becoming a major draw for international players. I'm confident our players will benefit hugely with this opportunity to play against some big stars and formidable internationals."