Mumbai: Badminton star PV Sindhu achieved her career-best BWF women’s singles ranking, as she surged to the fifth spot, on Wednesday.
Sindhu, who was previously on the sixth spot, surged ahead of Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, to attain her career best ranking.
Saina Nehwal, who stayed put at No. 9, is the second Indian in the top 10 spots of the BWF rankings, which is headed by Tai Tzu Ying of the Chinese Taipei.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Carolina Marin remains the only non-Asian in the top 10 spots of the BWF women’s rankings.
Sindhu has been on top form over the last 12 months, winning silver at the Rio Olympics last year. She lost out to Spain’s Carolina Marin in the final of the women’s singles event.
The 21-year-old, who is mentored by the shuttler-turned coach Pullela Gopichand, also clinched the 2016 China Open, and the Syed Modi International Badminton Championship, earlier this year.
Saina Nehwal, who has long been regarded as India’s best shuttler on the women’s singles circuit, has fallen behind Sindhu a bit this season, as she has been struggling with a knee injury.
Meanwhile, India does not have any representatives in the top 10 spots of the BWF men’s singles rankings. Ajay Jayaram (18) is the highest ranked Indian on the men’s singles circuit, followed by Kidambi Srikanth (21), and HS Prannoy (23).
