Sameer Verma’s stunning recent run saw him jump 11 places to the 23rd spot in the latest Badminton World Federation rankings released on Thursday, PTI reported.
The 22-year-old now lies only four places behind the top-ranked Indian men’s singles shuttler, Ajay Jayaram. HS Prannoy, who moved up by two spots, is 21st in the table.
Verma clinched the national championship and had a taste of his first Grand Prix title, winning the Syed Modi International last month. He also reached the final of the Hong Kong Super Series last year.
In the women’s rankings, Saina Nehwal fell by a spot to 10th, while Rio Olympics silver-medallist PV Sindhu held on to the fifth spot, which she recently attained. In the mixed doubles category, Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N Sikki Reddy were at the 13th spot. Men’s doubles duo Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy gained a place to get to 23rd.