PV Sindhu returns to World No. 8 in latest BWF rankings
(Courtesy :Â Badminton Photo)
Sindhu lifted her maiden Super 750 title last week
India’s star shuttler PV Sindhu has moved up two places to the eighth spot in women’s singles in the latest BWF world rankings released on Tuesday.
For the past two years, the question surrounding Sindhu wasn’t about whether she still had it in her to win the biggest titles but about how long it would take her to rediscover her best form.
Related: PV Sindhu becomes first Indian woman to lift Japan Open title
Persistent injuries, the gruelling evolution of the modern game, and a title drought stretching back to 2024 had left many wondering if the double Olympic medallist would be able to reproduce the skills that made her one of the best in the world.
On Sunday at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Sindhu provided an the answer.
Sindhu, who was ranked 10th last week, moved up two places after winning the 2026 Japan Open, her first Super 750 title.
That win earned Sindhu 11,000 points, lifting her total to 67,601 and taking her past Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong (66,727) and Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki (63,646).
The World No. 8 is the highest ranking she has achieved in the past three years, according to the latest BWF women’s singles world rankings.
Related: Japan Open 2026: PV Sindhu surpasses An Se-young to make this BWF record her own
She last reached this ranking on January 25, 2023, before injuries and inconsistent performances affected her form.
Her rise to world No. 8 has secured her a seeding for the 2026 BWF World Championships, where she will play in-front of the home crowd in Delhi.
She will next play the 2026 China Open Super 1000, which begins on Tuesday. Sindhu will face fellow Indian shuttler Unnati Hooda in the first round.
At the same time, Lakshya Sen retained his world No. 14 ranking in men’s singles, where he remains the highest-ranked Indian. The men’s doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy retained their world No. 4 ranking despite pulling out halfway through the Japan Open.
What is PV Sindhu’s position in latest BWF World Rankings?
PV Sindhu has risen to World No. 8 in the latest BWF World Rankings.
When did PV Sindhu last enter the top 8 of women’s singles in BWF World Rankings?
The last time Sindhu was part of the top 8 in women’s singles was back in January 25, 2023.
Why is PV Sindhu entering top 8 in women’s singles significant?
Being ranked within the top 8 in women’s singles will earn a seeding for the 2026 BWF World Championships at home.
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Namrata is a Delhi-based sports journalist who covers cricket, tennis, badminton, and a range of other sports. She has reported on major events including the T20 World Cup, ICC Women’s World Cup, IPL, and Wimbledon. Alongside handling live cricket coverage, she specialises in analytical and in-depth match stories. Over the years, Namrata has conducted exclusive interviews with some of India’s leading and emerging athletes, including shuttlers Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand, and Krishna Nagar, as well as cricketers Navdeep Saini and Sneh Rana.