Sai loses top ranking, Srikanth jumps to No.3

Jakarta, June 4: India’s Olympic bronze medallist Sai Nehwal lost her top spot, sliding to the third position, in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings released on Thursday. Reigning Olympic champion Li Xuerui regained the top spot. Sai failed to defend her Australian Open title last month. Both have advanced to the first round of the Indonesia Open.

Sai currently has 79192 points in the third spot, a rung below Spain’s Caroli Marin (80752), who won the Australian Open title. Chi’s Xuerui is on top with 85217. Sai had become the first Indian woman to reach No.1 on April 2 after finishing runner-up to reigning world champion Marin at All England Superseries and winning the India Open in March.

In the men’s singles, India’s Kidambi Srikanth climbed up a place to No.3 — a spot ahead of five-time world champion Lin Dan. Commonwealth Games 2014 champion Parupalli Kashyap is the next best Indian at No.12, followed by H.S. Prannoy, who rose a spot to No.13. Commonwealth Games 2010 gold medallists Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponppa also rose a place to be ranked No.17 in women’s doubles.

There are no Indians in the top-25 of men’s and mixed doubles rankings. IANS