Mumbai: Despite a disappointing campaign at the recently concluded Japan Open Super Series , as many as five Indian shuttlers have entered inside top 20 of BWF singles ranking. Current World No.19 Sameer Verma has joined Kidambi Srikanth , HS Prannoy , B Sai Praneeth , and Ajay Jayaram in the top 20 of the men's rankings.
While Srikanth has managed to maintain his position as World No 8, Prannoy jumped four spots to reach 15th position in the BWF rankings. Sai Praneeth and Jayaram also maintained their positions at 17th and 20th respectively, while Verma became the fifth Indian to join them on the list by moving two places from 21st to 19th.
Not very often we get to see this!! First time 5 Indians in top 20 of the World Rankings!! Just the start 🇮🇳🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/yG2zIorxtL
— PRANNOY HS (@PRANNOYHSPRI) September 28, 2017
Indian badminton is longer about PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal , who are expected to reach the semi-final or the final of major events whenever they have stepped onto the court. The male shuttlers have slowly been making their mark on the international badminton circle.
It's official today and 5 Indian Men Singles players are in top 20 of the world. It's just the beginning and lots more to achieve. pic.twitter.com/NZdeLZZbNv
— Kidambi Srikanth (@srikidambi) September 28, 2017
The rise of Kidambi Srikanth, one of Gopichand proteges, have been phenomenal. The Guntur- born shuttler had, earlier this year, landed two back-to-back Super Series titles and looks very much a strong contender for a berth in IBF World Series Finals in Dubai later this year.
The other male shuttlers Parupalli Kashyap, HS Prannoy and Ajay Jayaram have added more steel to the Indian men’s contingent. There was a time when Chinese male shuttlers dominated the badminton world, but Indian players have stepped up and improved by leaps and bounds to become a force to reckon with.
