Sports
Saina to become World No.1
New Delhi, March 28
Come Thursday when the
Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings are revised, Saina Nehwal will
become the first Indian woman to be ranked No.1 in singles.
Following
reigning World Champion Carolina Marin's semi-final loss to Ratchanok
Intanon at the India Open Superseries here on Saturday, Saina's way
became clear to notch the top spot ahead of her own semi-final, which
she plays later in the day.
Spaniard Carolina and Saina were in the race to grab the coveted position in the absence of China's top ranked Li Xuerui.
It
is only a formality for the 25-year-old Saina who will overtake
reigning Olympic champion Xuerui on Thursday to become the first
non-Chinese woman to be No.1 since December 2010 when Denmark's Tine
Baun was the top ranked shuttler.
The Indian will play her
semi-final at the $275,000 event being held at the Siri Fort Sports
Complex when she takes on Japan's Yui Hashimoto.