Chinese and Spanish stars to return to BWF World Superseries Finals stage

China's Lin Dan will feature at the Dubai World Superseries after missing the 2014 event ©Getty Images

China's Olympic champion Lin Dan and Spanish world champion Carolina Marin are among leading entries for the Badminton World Federation's (BWF) season-ending Dubai World Superseries Finals after each missing last year's event.

Lin, the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 winner who is also a five-time world champion, has shown improved form this year, and secures his place despite a disappointing second round loss at last week's Hong Kong Open.

Compatriot Chen Long will head an eight-strong line-up after a superb year crowned by victory at the World Championships in Jakarta.

Japan's Kento Momota lies in second place in the rankings ahead of two Danes in Jan O Jorgensen and Viktor Axelsen.

A third Chinese player, Tian Houwei, misses out despite being in seventh place on the list, as a maximum of two players are allowed from any one country.

Chinese stars also feature prominently in the women's singles, although they trail rising Spanish star Marin, the two-time defending world champion who has also won the Australian, French and Hong Kong Open titles this year.

Carolina Marin will be the top seed in a tantalisingly poised women's field ©Getty Images

Wang Shixian, who lost to Marin in two of those finals, qualifies in second place, with compatriot Wang Yihan third.

This means Olympic champion Li Xuerui misses out despite being in fourth place.

In what is fast becoming one of the most exciting categories in the sport, India's world silver medallist Saina Nehwal will also feature along with Taiwan's Tai Tzu Ying and in-form Japanese star, Nozomi Okuhara.

South Korea’s Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong lead the men's doubles entrants after earning six SuperSeries victories this year.

Team-mates Kim Gi Jung and Kim Sa Rang will be among other leading contenders along with Indonesia's world champion pairing, Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan.

China lead the way in the remaining two events, with Luo Ying and Luo Yu topping the rankings in the women's doubles along with world champions Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei, who qualify by virtue of a wildcard.

Another world champion pairing qualify first in the mixed doubles in Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei, with compatriots Liu Cheng and Bao Yixin in second place.

Action is set to take place in Dubai's Hamdan Sports Complex from December 9 to 13, with group matches followed by semi-finals and finals.