The Bulgarian International title win has propelled the 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist RMV Gurusaidutt to a big jump in the latest world rankings released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Thursday, October 12, 2017. From languishing at the 962nd spot a week earlier, the former World No. 19 is now back at the 481st spot after a climb of nearly 500 places.
The 27-year-old had a torrid time of late due to an ankle injury and a subsequent surgery that rendered him out of action for nearly a year since July, 2016.
His only match this year prior to this tournament was at the Thailand Open in end of May where he went down to Indonesia’s Panji Ahmad Maulana, 12-21, 12-21. After pulling out of a couple of further tournaments, Gurusaidutt made a comeback to the circuit at the Bulgarian International in Sofia.
He had to play qualifying rounds and won eight matches in a row to take the title, giving ample glimpses of his improved fitness.
Also read: Gurusaidutt wins Bulgarian International
No change in rankings for the top shuttlers
There was no change in rankings for the top Indian shuttlers as all of them have been gearing up for the hectic Superseries season coming up. The Denmark Open Superseries Premier and the French Open Superseries events are scheduled in back-to-back weeks in the second half of October.
The India No. 1 men’s singles ace Srikanth Kidambi maintains his eighth spot in the rankings. The 15th ranked HS Prannoy, the 17th ranked B Sai Praneeth, the 19th ranked Sameer Verma and the 20th ranked Ajay Jayaram round off the top 20.
In women’s singles, the Korea Open champion PV Sindhu is static at the World No. 2 spot. Saina Nehwal is unchanged at 12th.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty continue being India’s No. 1 men’s doubles pair at 32nd. Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy are just one rung below them.
Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy are the numero uno women’s doubles pair from the country at 23rd.
Sikki also holds on to her India No. 1 position in mixed doubles. She and Pranaav Jerry Chopra, who reached the Japan Open semi-finals, maintain their World No. 17 ranking.