Indian shuttler Siril Verma ranked world No 1 junior

Saina Nehwal continues to occupy the No 2 ranking among women, behind Carolina Marin of Spain.

India's Siril Verma is badminton's new junior world No. 1.

The 16-year-old climbed a whopping 11 rungs to occupy the number one spot in the junior men's singles category of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings on Thursday.

A finalist at the current World Junior Championships, and regarded as the next big thing in Indian badminton, Verma is ahead of second-placed Toma Junior Popov of France, while Chirag Sen, another Indian, occupies the No 3 ranking.

Meanwhile, star Indian women's shuttler and London Olympics bronze medaliist Saina Mehwal continues to occupy the No 2 ranking, behind Carolina Marin of Spain, while Li Xuerei of China is third.

Saina's compatriot and two-time world championship bronze medallist PV Sindhu remained static at No 12.

In the men's singles category, Kidambi Srikanth is the only Indian shuttler in the top 10, at No 9.

Glasgow Commonwealth Games gold medallist Parupalli Kashyap, who is back after an injury lay-off, is ranked No 15, ahead of H S Prannoy (20) and Ajay Jayram (21).

The 2011 World Championships bronze medallist pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa is at No 14 in the women's doubles rankings, while the men's doubles pair of Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy occupy the 17th spot.