Just a week after achieving her career-best rank of world number two, Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu, on Thursday lost three spots to be placed fifth in the latest Badminton World Federation list, reported PTI.
The 22-year-old shuttler from Hyderabad suffered a shock first-round exit from the Malaysia Open Super Series in Kuching last week to go down the ladder.
Saina Nehwal, who also lost in the first round of the Malaysia Open, however, remained unchanged at the ninth position. The women’s singles ranking table is headed by Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan.
In the men’s singles, Ajay Jayaram is the highest-ranked Indian at the 14th position. None of the other Indian male shuttlers figure in the top-20.
Sindhu’s ranking is set to rise again as she progressed to the quarter-finals of the Singapore Super Series on Thursday. She will meet Olympic champion and rival Carolina Marin in the marquee clash.