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Africa's top player improves in World Badminton ranking

Xinhua, September 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Africa's top badminton player Edwin Ekiring has brightened his chances of qualification for the 2016 Olympics after improving in the latest world rankings.

Ekiring who won for Uganda a bronze medal at the 2015 All Africa Games in Brazzaville this week moved by 10 places to 102, according to the latest rankings by Badminton World Federation,

"I am very happy with this move because it gets me closer to being among the top 100 and also brightens my chances of qualification for Olympics in Brazil," Ekiring told Xinhua on Friday.

According to the rankings, Ekiring remained the top ranked player in Africa while China's Chen Long maintained his number one position.

In the rankings South Africa's Jacob Maliekal who won gold in the All Africa Games slipped to 130, while Prakash Vijayanath also from South Africa dropped to 179.

Ekiring said that although he was disappointed to settle for a bronze medal at the All Africa Games he will stay focused to make it to the Olympics.

"It is always tough for African players to qualify for the Olympics. But I will keep working hard to try and make it," added Ekiring, who plays for a club in the Netherlands. According to the rules players in the top 100 qualify for the Olympics or the top ranked in the continent.

In the women's rankings Uganda's Bridget Shami Bangi also improved by 13 places to 136. Bangi won all her singles games in the team events at the 2015 All Africa Games including a win over Africa's top player Gariel Grace who is now ranked 79 in the world.

India's Saina Nehwal and Carolina Marin of Spain maintained their first and second positions respectively in the women's rankings. Endit