Top 5 badminton women’s singles players of 2016

#3 Sun Yu (China)

Sun Yu reached six finals in 2016

The baton has passed from China’s irrepressible trio of Li Xuerui, Wang Yihan and Wang Shixian to the next generation. With Yihan and Shixian retiring this year and Xuerui sustaining an injury at Rio, it was left to the rising brigade to carry the torch in Chinese women’s singles badminton.

Tall and athletic, 22-year-old Sun Yu was the best player to fill in their shoes. In 2016, she had her most consistent season as she steadily rose towards the top. She reached as many as six finals which secured her place among the top eight at the World Superseries Finals, where she went unbeaten in the group stage. Sun deservedly finished at a career-high ranking of 6th after going down to 15th in April.