Ace shuttler Kidambi Srikanth on Thursday became the first Indian male badminton player to become the world number 1. Srikanth today officially replaced Denmark's Viktor Axelsen in the latest BWF rankings.
Saina Nehwal is the first Indian women's shuttler to achieve the world number 1 ranking in March, 2015. She remains the only Indian women's badminton player to do so.
Srikanth, who won four Super Series titles in 2017 - Indonesia, Australia, Denmark and France - became world number 2 in November, 2017.
Srikanth is also the fourth shuttler in the world to win four Super Series titles in a calender year.
Srikanth also played a key role in helping India win the gold medal in mixed team badminton at the ongoing 21st Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Denmark's Axelsen, who is the reigning world champion, failed to defend his Malaysian Open crown and thus slipped to No.2 in the rankings.
