BWF Rankings: Lakshya Sen makes massive jump to break into top 100

Rising Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen made a massive jump of19 places in the latest world rankings released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Thursday, December 7, 2017. The 16-year-old is now ranked 89th following his runner-up finish at the Tata Open in Mumbai last week.

The Almora-born player, who trains at Bangalore’s Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, was aiming for his first title at the International Challenge level. However, the highly talented teenager went down in the final to Thailand’s Sitthikom Thammasin, despite having won the first game.

Sen came to the tournament on the back of a successful defence of his title at the India International Series in Hyderabad the week before.

The youngster took to Twitter to thank his father and coaches for this achievement.

So excited to break into the top 100 for the first time. I would not be here if not for all the support I have received along the way. In particular I would like to thank my father and Prakash Padukone sir and all my coaches/ trainers at PPBA who have mentored me at every step. pic.twitter.com/JMuep8g0Q8

— Lakshya Sen (@lakshya_sen) December 7, 2017

Srikanth climbs to fourth

Among the other Indians, the country’s No. 1 men’s singles player, Srikanth Kidambi climbed one spot to fourth in the latest rankings. HS Prannoy and Sai Praneeth remain unchanged at 10th and 17th respectively.

Sameer Verma is 30th while Ajay Jayaram is 38th and Sourabh Verma is 49th. Parupalli Kashyap plummeted 12 rungs to 55th. Abhishek Yelegar jumped eight spots to a career-best 68th after reaching the semi-finals of the Tata Open last week.

Gurusaidutt breaks back into top 250

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist RMV Gurusaidutt rose a whopping 37 places to 240 after losing the final of the Welsh International last Sunday. The 27-year-old is on the comeback from an ankle injury that required a surgery and consequently, kept him out of action for a year.

Ruthvika Shivani rises

In women’s singles, the country’s top two stars -- PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal -- maintain their World No. 3 and No. 10 rankings respectively. Former national champion Rituparna Das climbed three spots to 49th.

20-year-old Ruthvika Shivani Gadde’s Tata Open win was rewarded with an ascension to the 89th spot from 119th. The South Asian Games champion, a former top 50 player, had been on the sidelines for six months due to a knee injury.

The 24-year-old Tanvi Lad too surged a spot to 90th thanks to her victory at the Welsh International.

Rankireddy and Shetty drop three places

The top Indian men’s doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty plunged three rungs to 30th as they failed to defend their title at the Tata Open. Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy stay put at 32nd.

In women’s doubles, Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy are 26th. In mixed doubles, Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Reddy are 19th and the pair of Rankireddy and Ponnappa is 73rd.