Indian badminton received a major boost this week as two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu made her long-awaited return to the top 10 of the BWF women’s singles world rankings. The achievement marks an important milestone in the former world champion’s comeback journey after spending more than two and a half years outside badminton’s elite bracket.
The latest rankings update sees Sindhu move up one place to World No. 10, her highest position since late 2023. The rise comes on the back of a consistent run of performances during the recent Southeast Asian leg of the BWF World Tour, where she reached consecutive quarterfinals at the Thailand Open Super 500 and Singapore Open Super 750 tournaments. Her improved results have allowed her to regain valuable ranking points and re-establish herself among the world’s leading women’s singles players.
For Sindhu, the return to the top 10 represents the reward for months of hard work and perseverance. The 30-year-old has experienced a challenging period in recent seasons due to injuries, changes in coaching setups, and inconsistent tournament results. However, recent performances suggest that the Hyderabad shuttler is steadily rediscovering the form that made her one of the most dominant players of the previous decade.
Sindhu remains India’s most decorated badminton player. Her achievements include Olympic silver at the Rio 2016 Games, Olympic bronze at Tokyo 2020, the 2019 BWF World Championship title, and multiple medals at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and World Championships. Her ability to consistently compete at the highest level has made her one of the most respected figures in world badminton.
The ranking improvement comes at an ideal time as Sindhu is currently competing at the prestigious Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament in Jakarta. The tournament is one of the most important events on the BWF World Tour calendar and offers significant ranking points. A deep run this week could further strengthen her position inside the top 10 and potentially move her closer to the world’s top eight.
Sindhu’s resurgence also highlights a positive period for Indian badminton overall. India now has three representatives in the top 10 across the major BWF categories, reflecting the country’s growing strength on the international circuit. Leading the Indian contingent are men’s doubles stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who continue to hold the World No. 4 ranking.
The duo recently ended a lengthy title drought by winning the Singapore Open, one of the biggest achievements of their season so far. Their consistency over the past few years has established them among the world’s premier men’s doubles partnerships, and they remain India’s strongest medal contenders at major international events.
In men’s singles, Lakshya Sen has also maintained his place inside the world’s top 10. The Commonwealth Games gold medallist recently returned to the elite group after spending more than 440 days outside the top 10 due to injuries and fluctuating form. His runner-up finish at the All England Championships earlier this year, combined with several quarterfinal appearances on the BWF World Tour, has played a crucial role in his rankings revival.
Elsewhere, India’s doubles players experienced mixed fortunes in the latest rankings update. Women’s doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand dropped to World No. 41 after spending nearly three months away from competition because of injury setbacks. The young duo had previously established themselves among the world’s fastest-rising partnerships and will be eager to regain lost ground once they return to full fitness.
There was better news in mixed doubles, where Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto climbed five places to reach World No. 23. Their impressive semifinal run last week demonstrated the pair’s growing consistency and ability to challenge higher-ranked opponents. The ranking rise places them closer to the world’s top 20 and strengthens India’s prospects in a category where the country has traditionally found success harder to achieve.
With the Indonesia Open underway and several major tournaments still to come this season, Indian badminton finds itself in a strong position. Sindhu’s return to the top 10 is more than just a personal achievement. It serves as a reminder that one of India’s greatest sporting icons remains a force on the international stage.
As the race for ranking points intensifies and the world’s best players battle for supremacy, Sindhu’s resurgence, coupled with the continued success of Satwik-Chirag and Lakshya Sen, offers encouraging signs for Indian badminton. The coming months could prove crucial in determining whether this positive momentum can translate into more titles, podium finishes, and a sustained presence among the sport’s global elite.
