Spain's Carolina Marin becomes women's world number one after latest BWF rankings are revealed

Spain’s Carolina Marin has become the women's number one ©Getty Images

Spain’s Carolina Marin has moved to the top of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) women’s rankings, replacing India’s Saina Nehwal as world number one.

Marin, who successfully defended her women’s singles title at the Badminton World Championships in Indonesia’s capital city Jakarta during August, has claimed the top ranking following the Japan and Denmark Open tournaments.

The 22-year-old exited the Japan Open at the quarter-final stage, while her Denmark Open campaign was ended by Sindhu Venkata Sindhu in the semi-finals with the Indian triumphing 21-15, 18-21, 21-17.

However, Marin’s performances earned her enough points to regain top spot in the standings from Nehwal, who had held the position since August, with the Indian having lost in the second round in both events to Japan’s Minatsu Mitani.

Meanwhile, China’s Chen Long looks set to complete a full year as the men’s world number one after extending his advantage at the top of the standings.

Long, who topped the rankings last December, moved onto a total of 98,681 points after winning the Denmark Open title after beaten Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto 21-12, 21-12 in the gold medal match.

The victory continued the Chinese star’s excellent run of form which has seen him recently defend the men’s singles world title and triumph at the South Korea Open.

China's Chen Long maintains his dominant grip of the number one position in the men's singles rankings ©Getty Images

Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen is currently closest to Chen in the standings, but looks unlikely to overhaul his rival in the near future as he is well back on 75,967 points.

There is also no change at the top of the doubles rankings as South Korea’s Yong Dae Lee and Yeon Seong Yoo remain men’s number ones on 97,730 points, while Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi have kept their leadership in the women’s table on 75,029.

China’s Nan Zhang and Yunlei Zhao hold a dominant grip on the mixed doubles world rankings, having accrued 102,935 points, with their nearest challengers Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia some way adrift on 82,712.