Indian badminton players with most weeks at World No. 1

By Siddharthan P

Siddharth has been part of Khel Now since September 2023 and has covered Asian Games, Olympics and Pro Kabaddi League, writing articles for multiple sports.

Published at :April 6, 2024 at 7:59 PM

Modified at :April 6, 2024 at 7:59 PM

(Courtesy : BAI)

Satwik-Chirag continue to break records on the men’s doubles circuit.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first Indians to hold the top spot in the World Badminton Rankings for an impressive 10 consecutive weeks.

The Indian pair has been on a dream run in the last two years winning multiple tournaments, which started at home when they won the India Open in 2022.

This victory served as a springboard for their subsequent achievements. However, their most significant victory came when they played a pivotal role in India’s historic Thomas Cup success, securing the prestigious title for the first time.

Furthermore, Satwiksairaj and Chirag won Commonwealth Games gold – the first Indian doubles team to attain the honour. Their success resonated widely, cementing their status as world-class players.

Not only Satwik-Chirag, but a few other Indian shutters have achieved pole position at some point in their careers. Here is a look at these elite athletes:

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty – 11 Weeks

Their ascent to World No. 1 began with a resounding victory at the Asian Games, a moment that propelled them into the spotlight. The icing on the cake was the gold medal they clinched, breaking a 60-year jinx and reaffirming their status as India’s premier doubles pair.

The pair seem to love the history books as they keep revisiting them. En route to No. 1, they became the first Indian pair to win Super 750 and Super 1000 events by clinching the French Open and Indonesia Open respectively

Saina Nehwal – 9 Weeks

Saina Nehwal, India’s star badminton player broke barriers, becoming the first Indian woman to reach the world’s top ranking. Her journey began with a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. In 2014, Saina’s skills shone through, with her winning the Australian Open and China Open.

But, it was her silver at the All-England Championships that made her World No. 1 for nine weeks, from August 20 to October 21, 2015.

Srikanth Kidambi – 1 Week

Srikanth Kidambi had an impressive 2017 on the men’s badminton circuit. His eye-catching gameplay, with powerful down-the-line smashes, skillful cross-court backhands, deceptive lifts and long rallies enthralled fans.

He became only the fourth player to win four Super Series titles in a year. Though his stay at World No. 1 was brief his achievements were remarkable.

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Siddharthan P

Like many 90s kids, Siddharth dreamt of being a cricketer but ended up studying Engineering. But his passion for sports never left him, as he started writing and talking about it. He worked as a commentator for the Tamil Nadu Premier League and has been writing about all other sports since 2017. Any day, if there is an Indian playing in any sport, Sid will be watching.