#4 PV Sindhu (India)
There has never been any doubt that the Pullela Gopichand-coached PV Sindhu is a gifted player. Possessing a devastating attacking game, her resume already had two World Championships bronze medals. Her defence had been the only chink in her armour so far.
The 21-year-old, who began the year by winning the Malaysia Masters, worked relentlessly on her weakness and improved by leaps and bounds. Armed with a newfound calmness, she soared to a new high at the Rio Olympics, clinching the silver medal en route to making new history for Indian badminton.
The unstoppable Sindhu continued to impress even after Rio and embarked on a memorable Asian Swing where she won the China Open and reached the final of the Hong Kong Open, rising to career-best No. 7. The late surge gave her a chance to compete with the crème de la creme at the World Superseries Finals and she justified her place by making the last-four.
For her astounding success throughout the season, she was rightly adjudged the ‘Most improved player’ by BWF.
