Champion Zhu dropped from China squad for worlds

China's Zhu Lin plays a shot against Indonesia's Maria Kristin during women's singles final match at the Djarum Indonesia Super Series 2008 badminton championships in Jakarta June 22, 2008.

BEIJING (Reuters) - World champion Zhu Lin will not be able to defend her title in India this August after being left out of the China squad for the badminton world championships, local media reported on Tuesday.

Olympic silver medallist and former world champion Xie Xingfang will lead China's team for the women's singles, which also includes All England champion Wang Yihan, China's highest ranked player Wang Lin and Lu Lan.

"Zhu has been out of form in both competitions and training recently, and Xie has shown her strong desire to play." China head coach Li Yongbo told the People's Daily. "It is reasonable to have a veteran in the team."

The 24-year-old Zhu, who was also dropped by Li for last year's Olympics and last month's Sudirman Cup, was knocked out in the first round at the All Englands and the second round at the Swiss Open but beat Xie in the final of the Asian Championships in April.

The men's side is headed up by Xie's boyfriend, Olympic and world champion Lin Dan. Olympic women's doubles winners Du Jing and Yu Yang will play their first world championships.

The world championships take place from Aug. 10-16 in Hyderabad.

(Reporting by Liu Zhen and Nick Mulvenney; Editing by John O'Brien; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)