
This is the first time the prestigious Nationals is returning to the North-East since Guwahati last hosted it in 2010.
Defending champion Saina Nehwal and last edition’s runner-up P.V. Sindhu will be the biggest attractions on the women’s side. However, the men’s singles will lose a bit of sheen with defending champion HS Prannoy and runners-up Kidambi Srikanth likely to pull out due to injuries.
In their absence, former champions Sameer Verma and Parupalli Kashyap will be leading the charge.