New Delhi: Despite his impressive performance at the recently concluded Sudirman Cup, Pullela Gopichand will not be able to lead the Indian challenge at the World Badminton Championship to be held from May 12-18 in Birmingham due to the change in the qualification rules this year.

Under the new eligibility format, there would be a limited draw of 64 in each event with the International Badminton Federation (IBF) determining the entry of the player on the basis of continental representation and world ranking as on February 20, 2003.

Gopichand, who skipped a number of international tournaments including the All England Championship in February this year due to a knee injury, has slipped to 117 in world rankings and hence does not figure in the list of players eligible for the tournament declared by the IBF, which feature nine Indians.

Instead, India will be represented by Nikhil Kanetkar and Abhinn Shyam Gupta in men's singles and by Aparna Popat in women's singles. The men's pairs of V Diju and Sanave Thomas and Jaseel P Ismail and Jaison Zavier and women's pair of Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurien will lead the Indian challenge in doubles, according to the Badminton Association of India's official website.

Nikhil Kanetkar has an international ranking of 50, while Abhinn Shyam Gupta is ranked 78th.

PTI