Sanskar Saraswat, an 18-year-old badminton prodigy from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, has achieved the prestigious No. 1 spot in India’s U-19 boys’ singles rankings, marking a historic milestone in his young career.
The latest rankings, released by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Monday, confirm Sanskar’s rise to the top, making him the first player from Rajasthan to attain this position.
Sanskar’s journey to the top has been nothing short of extraordinary. At the beginning of the year, he was not even ranked in the top 20, but a series of stellar performances in national tournaments catapulted him to the summit of junior badminton in India.
His crowning achievement came last month when he won the U-19 boys’ singles title at the All India Ranking tournament in Panchkula, a victory that significantly boosted his ranking. Reflecting on his accomplishment, Sanskar told The Times of India, “It was always my dream to become junior India No. 1 player. Now, my target is to become the national junior champion next month.”
The Junior National Championship, set to be held in Odisha starting November 19, will be Sanskar’s next major challenge. He is currently training at the BAI’s National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati, where he is honing his skills and aiming to further solidify his top ranking.
“There is still a month to go for the Junior Nationals. I am determined to win the crown and also end the year on top. Ever since I joined Guwahati national centre, there has been a remarkable improvement in my game. I want to thank my coaches and parents for my success,” Sanskar added.
Sanskar’s rise in 2023 has been built on a series of strong performances. A runner-up finish in Bhubaneswar earlier this year was followed by his title-winning run in Panchkula, which propelled him to No. 1. He also claimed twin bronze medals in the All India Senior Ranking tournament in Lucknow, showcasing his talent among senior players.
In addition to his success in singles, Sanskar is also a force in doubles. He is ranked third in the U-19 boys’ doubles alongside his partner, Arsh Mohammad from Uttar Pradesh. The duo recently secured a bronze medal at the Senior All India Ranking tournament in Lucknow.
Sanskar’s achievements highlight the growing strength of badminton in Rajasthan, with other promising players also rising in the ranks. Manish Phogat, another shuttler from Rajasthan, is currently ranked No. 5 in the U-19 boys’ singles.
Additionally, in the U-17 category, Arnav Sharma is ranked second in mixed doubles, while Jangjeet Singh Kajla and Arnav Sharma are ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, in boys’ doubles. In U-17 girls’ singles, Parul Choudhary and Sneha Lamba are ranked tenth and eleventh.
As the Junior National Championship approaches, all eyes will be on Sanskar Saraswat, who looks to add another feather to his cap and cement his place at the top of India’s junior badminton rankings.
