Badminton rankings: Saina rises to 2nd, Kashyap in top 10

Olympic bronze-medallist Saina Nehwal attained a new high as she climbed to a career-best second in the latest Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings released on Thursday.

Saina gained a rung to be second with 80091.7444 points.

The Indian, who is currently competing in the Malaysia Open Super Series, is a distant second to top-placed Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China who has 94626.7153 points.

After a highly successful 2012, Saina Nehwal will look to start the new year on a winning note.

The 22-year-old brought home India's first Olympic medal in badminton when she clinched the bronze in London last year and this year, Saina has already set her eyes on the All England and World Championship titles.

In the men's list, Olympic quarter-finalist Parupalli Kashyap also headed northwards as he reached a career-high 10th.

Kashyap, who was 11th in the previous rankings, has 51986.6900 points and is the only Indian in the top-25 of the BWF list.

India's ace shuttler Parupalli Kashyap had recently triumphed in the Syed Modi International India Grand Prix.

Among other prominent players, rising woman player P V Sindhu, rose a rung to 16th with 43116.8667 points.

She had made headlines after her win over Olympic gold medallist Li Xuerui. The 17-year-old skipped her sister's wedding to play in the season-ending Syed Modi Grand Prix tournament, but faltered at the final hurdle.

In the men's list, the next Indian after Kashyap is Ajay Jayaram at the 31st spot.

Jayaram dropped one position in the latest rankings with 37692.0000 points.