Srikanth Kidambi to become World No. 1 this week in BWF Rankings

Srikanth Kidambi will become World No. 1 in the Badminton World Federation Rankings to be released this Thursday. The 25-year-old missed the chance of reaching the top spot last year, as he skipped few tournaments due to injury.

In this modern era of badminton, Srikanth will be the second Indian to join the club of elite players after Saina Nehwal, who has reached the top spot in 2015. And, Saina remains the only Indian girl markedly, to have achieved the feat.

It was Prakash Padukone from India who bagged the World No. 1 rank in 1980, after winning the top three tournaments, and now, Srikanth will be the second Indian men to reach the top spot in the Indian badminton history.

Srikanth will not get any points this week, but, as Viktor Axelsen - the current World No. 1 shuttler - will lose 1660 points, the former will jump up with 76,895 points.  

The defending and world champion Viktor Axelsen experienced ankle injury just prior to the prestigious All England and has been in recuperation since then. Due to which he will lose points in the world rankings chart.

The badminton analyst for the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Md Maqdoom Ahmed, said, “We have been anxiously waiting for this moment, which should have been happened last year. His injury stopped him from achieving the great feat and from playing all the year-end tourneys. Had he reached quarterfinals in a couple of those tournaments he could have become No. 1. Though Srikanth won't gain any points, Axelsen losing 1660 points will be good enough for the Indian,” as quoted the saying by TOI.

KVS Krishna, Srikanth’s father said, “We know he will become No.1 in a week or two. It's definitely a proud moment for all of us.”