BWF Rankings: Steep fall for Sat-Chi; Sindhu, Prannoy stay in top 10

Men's doubles champions from the Asian Games, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, fell four places to be ranked fifth in the latest BWF World Rankings published by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Tuesday, October 31. Chinese pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who replaced the Indians at the top of the pole, became the new world no. 1.

Satwik and Chirag's inability to retain their title in last week's French Open Super 750 in Rennes caused them to fall in the rankings. Following a 23-25, 21-19, 19-21 loss to previous world champions Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan, the 2022 winners were eliminated from the World Tour event in the Round of 16.

Satwik and Chirag had made history during their historic 2023 Asian Games campaign in Hangzhou, China, becoming the first Indian doubles duo to win the gold medal. Following this magnificent performance, they reached the top of the world rankings on October 10. Since their continental triumph, they have only participated in one tournament, the French Open.

In the men's doubles category, MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila were the next-best combination from India.

Sindhu retains top-10 rank

India's best women's doubles duo Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand remained in 18th place in the women's doubles rankings. Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto, a rapidly rising duo in women's doubles, dropped a rank and are presently ranked 33rd despite winning the Abu Dhabi Masters.

But if they perform well at this week's BWF Hylo Open, they will have an opportunity to advance. At 40th place, India's top-ranked duo in mixed doubles is Rohan Kapoor and Sikki Reddy.

In the singles category, Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, and PV Sindhu all retained their current position. Despite being forced to retire during her Round of 16 match against Supanida Katethong at the French Open due to a knee injury, Sindhu held her ranking in women's singles at tenth. Aakarshi Kashyap, Ashmitha Chaliha, and Malvika Bansod, who are all in the top 50, kept their positions from the previous week.

HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, and Kidambi Srikanth are placed at eighth, seventeenth, and 22nd in the men's singles rankings, respectively. Asian Games bronze medallist Prannoy has not been taking part in any tournaments since at the Asiad as he is recovering from a back injury. Lakshya and Srikanth both disappointingly lost in the first round of the French Open.

Upcoming tournaments

Although the finest Indian shuttlers have taken a break this week, they will return in November to compete in many highly anticipated events. The BWF Asia zone tournaments will resume with the Korea Masters (November 7–12), followed by the Japan Masters (November 14–19), China Masters (November 21–26), and Syed Modi India International (November 28–December 3).