Saina retains third place in rankings

New Delhi: London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal retained her third place in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) women`s rankings released Friday.

Saina recently lost in the final of the French Open Super Series to Japan`s Minatsu Mitani after winning the Denmark Open Super Series Premier in October.

Another Hyderabadi, P.V. Sindhu retained her 25th position on the table.

Among the men, London Olympics quarter-finalist Parupalli Kashyap and Mumbai`s Ajay Jayaram also held on to 23rd and 27th positions, respectively. Sourabh Verma, who hails from Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, dropped a place to 33.

In the men`s doubles, Kerala shuttlers K.T. Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas gained a place to be 27th.

Jwala Gutta, who is taking a sabbatical from the badminton tour currently, still figures in the women`s and mixed doubles rankings.

In women`s, Jwala and Ashwini Ponnappa are ranked 21st while in mixed doubles she is 19th with V. Diju.

IANS