New Delhi: Indian badminton received a significant boost as rising star Unnati Hooda surged into the top 20 of the latest Badminton World Federation rankings, achieving a career-best World No. 19 position.
With this milestone, Hooda becomes only the third Indian women’s singles player to enter the elite bracket after Saina Nehwal and P. V. Sindhu, underlining her rapid rise on the global stage and reinforcing India’s growing depth in women’s singles badminton.
While Hooda’s breakthrough has grabbed headlines, Sindhu continues to remain India’s highest-ranked women’s singles player, currently placed 12th with 55,671 ranking points. At the top of the women’s rankings sits An Se-young of South Korea, leading the chart with a commanding 117,787 points, according to reports.
In the men’s singles category, India’s Lakshya Sen is positioned just outside the top 10 at World No. 11 with 68,223 points, maintaining his status as the country’s top-ranked male shuttler. Close behind, Ayush Shetty has climbed to World No. 18 with 54,729 points, signalling promising depth in the men’s circuit as well.
Leading the men’s rankings globally is China’s Shi Yuqi, who occupies the top spot with 106,805 points.
Hooda’s entry into the top 20 is being seen as a defining moment, not just for her career but also for Indian badminton’s next generation, as the sport continues to build on the legacy of established names while ushering in fresh talent ready to compete at the highest level.
