Indian badminton players with most weeks at World No. 1

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.

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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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