Saina Regains World Number Four Ranking

New Delhi, Sept 29: Riding on her semifinal finish at the Japan Open Super Series, Saina Nehwal on Thursday improved a rung to be placed fourth in the latest world badminton ranking.

While the 21-year-old Saina was stunned by Germany's Juliane Schenk in the last-four stage in Japan, she could not advance beyond the quarterfinals of the World Badminton Championship and China Masters.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist P. Kashyap and Ajay Jayaram, who had a decent quarterfinal finish at the World Championship, also surged one place ahead in the ranking to be placed 22nd and 24th respectively.

Jwala Gutta and V. Diju zoomed six places to 29th place, while Jwala and Ashini Ponnappa were in 16th position, improving two places in the latest ranking. PTI