Guwahati: Young shuttler Tasnim Mir on Wednesday became the first Indian to claim the world no 1 ranking in the under-19 girls singles in the latest BWF junior rankings.
The 16-year-old Mir jumped three places to reach the top position in the junior world rankings in the women’s singles category with 10,810 points.
The BWF Junior rankings started in 2011 and by then, Saina didn’t make the cut for being a junior while Sindhu was a World No 2 in the Juniors during her U-19 days.
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The 16-year-old from Gujarat was rewarded for last year’s stellar run when she had secured titles in three junior international tournaments to jump three places to grab the top position in the junior world rankings.
“I can’t say that I expected this. I thought I will not be able to become no 1 as tournaments were getting affected by COVID-19 but I won three events in Bulgaria, France and Belgium. So I am really excited and happy that finally I could become the world no 1. It is a great moment for me,” Tasnim told PTI from Guwahati.
“I will completely focus on the senior circuit from now on and looking forward to playing at Iran and Uganda next month. My aim now is to improve my senior ranking. If I can weave some good performances and get into top 200 by end of the year that would be great.”
Tasnim, who is supported by OGQ, is currently ranked a lowly 602 in the women’s singles.
Tasnim’s feat has never been achieved by any Indian girl, including two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu and London bronze winner Saina Nehwal.
While Sindhu was world no 2 in her under-19 days, Saina didn’t make the cut for being a junior with the BWF junior rankings starting only in 2011. Another Indian Samiya Imad Farooqui of Telangana came close but could only reached the second spot in the BWF junior rankings.
