Kula Lumpur: Saina Nehwal on Thursday officially took the top spot in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings for women’s singles.
Olympic bronze medallist Saina, who was assured of the top spot during the India Open, which she won while reigning World champion Carolina Marin faltered in the semi-finals, now has 78,541 points.
“Officially world number 1 today in the BWF rankings very very very very very very happy thank u all for the support,” an elated Saina wrote on Twitter.
Spaniard Carolina acquired the second spot with 73,618 points.
Reigning Olympic champion Xuerui of China dropped to third, while India’s young shuttler P.V. Sindhu remained ninth.
Saina reach quarters in Malaysia Open, Prannoy and Kashyap out
Meanwhile, World No.1 Saina Nehwal reached the quarter-finals while men’s singles shuttlers H.S. Prannoy and Parupalli Kashyap suffered crushing defeats in the second round of the $500,000 Malaysia Open Superseries Premier at the Putra Stadium here on Thursday.
Olympic bronze medallist Saina registered a facile 21-13, 21-9 win in 30 minutes against Chinese qualifier Xue Yao in the second round of the women’s singles event.
In the last eight stage, the 25-year-old Hyderabadi, who currently trains under Vimal Kumar in Benagluru, will face World No.15 Sun Yu. The Chinese worked hard for her 21-17, 20-22, 21-17 victory over Malaysian Beiwen Zhang.
Prannoy lost 15-21, 14-21 in 52 minutes to five-time World champion Lin Dan of China.
World No.17 and Commonwealth Games champion Kashyap received a 10-21, 6-21 thrashing in 35 minutes at the hands of reigning World champion Chen Long of China.
In another heartbreak for India, leading Indian women’s doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa lost 23-21, 8-21, 17-21 in 58 minutes to the Indonesian pair of Nitya Krishinda Maheswari and Greysia Polii. (IANS)
