Dubai: Indian badminton star Srikanth Kidambi is set to become world No. 1 on Thursday, replacing Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen who lost at least 1,660 points because he could not defend his Malaysian Open title this week.
It’s no failing on Axelsen’s part as the Malaysian Open was held from April 4-9 last year but has now been moved to June 26 to July 1 on account of the ongoing Commonwealth Games.
The news comes as 25-year-old Srikanth from Ravulapalem, Andhra Pradesh, celebrates mixed team gold in the ongoing Commonwealth Games and continues to feature in the men’s singles format in that event on Australia’s Gold Coast.
He becomes only the second Indian after Saina Nehwal to top the rankings and the first Indian male to do so, despite the fact Prakash Padukone was also regarded as the world’s best player back in 1980 before the rankings system was introduced. Nehwal achieved the feat in 2015.
It is also a major boon for coach Pullela Gopichand, who has overseen the rise of both Nehwal and Kidambi at his academy in Hyderabad; during a week where he’s also led 10 of his charges (including the duo) to mixed team gold in Australia as India’s chief national team mentor, where eight of those 10 hail from his academy. Ashwini Ponnappa and Chirag Shetty are the exception.
“This is a huge achievement for Srikanth as well as for Indian badminton,” Gopichand told media.
“There has been a lot of talk about our women doing well, but now we will have a men’s No.1. This will help Srikanth become more relaxed. Whatever happens from here, he will always know that he was ranked as the best in the world — that he has accomplished that goal. It will help him focus more on winning tournaments.”
Gopichand, the last Indian to win an All England Open in 2001 — who himself reached a career high of fifth in the rankings that year — said of his side’s Commonwealth Games’ success: “The gold medal in a mixed team event was a great victory.
“I remember we used to lose to teams like Canada, England. And now to beat a formidable team like Malaysia only shows that Indian badminton is on its way up.”
Srikanth dispatched off Malaysian legend Lee Chong Wei in that final 21-17, 21-14 to count towards the overall 3-1 win over the holders.
“I never expected Srikanth to beat Lee Chong Wei with such ease,” added Gopichand. “Srikanth kept the pressure on Lee Chong once he got off to a good start. I believe that Srikanth has a lot of potential and there is a lot more for him to achieve.”
Victory over Chong Wei is not the reason he has gone No. 1 however, because Commonwealth Games results do not count towards the rankings. It’s purely down to Axelsen’s technicality.
Srikanth burst onto the scene with victory in the Thailand Open in 2013 and won four Super Series events last year, he reached World No. 2 in November jumping up from World No. 8 and could have continued his charge for first back then — had it not been for a leg injury sustained in November’s National Championships in Nagpur.
