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India's Saina Nehwal becomes World No. 1 badminton player

The Indian will play her semi-final at the $275,000 event being held at the Siri Fort Sports Complex when she takes on Japan's Yui Hashimoto.

New Delhi: Come Thursday when the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings are revised, Saina Nehwal will become the first Indian woman to be ranked No. 1 in singles.

Following reigning World Champion Carolina Marin's semi-final loss to Ratchanok Intanon at the India Open Superseries on Saturday, Saina's way became clear to notch the top spot ahead of her own semi-final, which she plays later in the day.

Spaniard Carolina and Saina were in the race to grab the coveted position in the absence of China's top ranked Li Xuerui.

It is only a formality for the 25-year-old Saina who will overtake reigning Olympic champion Xuerui on Thursday to become the first non-Chinese woman to be No. 1 since December 2010, when Denmark's Tine Baun was the top ranked shuttler.

The Indian will play her semi-final at the $275,000 event being held at the Siri Fort Sports Complex when she takes on Japan's Yui Hashimoto.