PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal static at 5th, 8th spots in badminton rankings

Among the men's singles shuttlers, Kidambi Srikanth and Sameer Verma managed to hold on to their 10th and 13th spots.

As India’s coach, Gopi is answerable: Jwala Gutta

The association and government fund training programmes, provide foreign coaches, physios and organise tournaments.

Sameer Verma, who has qualified as the fourth Indian for the World Championship, jumped four spots to be 28th in the standings.

The Indian shuttler rallied her way to a 17-21, 21-18, 21-12 victory over eighth seeded Thai player.

Khanna said that Natekar was so versatile that he could vary his game according to his opponent's style of play and called it “phenomenal”.