Hyderabad, Aug 9 - The Badminton World Championships will begin here Monday under a thick security blanket after England's last-minute withdrawal left other participating countries anxious about their safety.

More than 250 players from 42 countries will be competing in the six-day event. The championships is the first of the series of world-class sporting event that India would be hosting ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

The success of the event would go a long way in projecting India as a safe venue, after repeated concerns of visiting nations post-Mumbai terror attacks of Nov 26 last year.

The Australian Davis Cup team had refused to travel to Chennai in May for the crucial third round tie. And now the English badminton team has flown back home, having earlier pulled out of the Indian Open in March on security concerns.

Incidentally, it was the English cricket team that returned to India to play the unfinished series after flying back home in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks.

Since the reports of possible LeT attacks, a multi-layered security arrangement has been put in place at the Gachibowli Stadium, the venue for the World Championships, Pullela Gopichand's academy, the training venue, and the team hotels.

Players, officials and media are being frisked and also checked through metal detectors at multiple places. Even team buses ferrying players from hotels to the venue are being screened.

The security arrangements are going to become tighter once the tournament gets under way Monday.

The spotlight will be on city girl and world No.6 Saina Nehwal, who is seeded sixth in the women's singles. She is India's best shot for a medal in the 16-member team.

A lot of expectation will be riding on Saina, who will enjoy the crowd support. She will be playing on her home turf after winning India's maiden Super Series title in Indonesia.