Picture Credit: Twitter
Indian shuttler PV Sindhu has been granted protected rankings by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). Two-time Olympic medallist suffered a knee injury during her second-round clash in the recently concluded French Open 2023. With protected ranking, she will now be locked at World Number 10 ranking until she makes her comeback.
The protected rankings come into effect as soon as the BWF grants permission to the player and are no longer effective after 12 months. According to the official rules, “Players who are Top Committed Players for the year can submit a request to get a protected ranking due to injury or other circumstances making it impossible for the Player to compete for long periods in the following way.”
The rules further state, “The Player must submit medical and/or other relevant documentation supporting the request to get a protected ranking. As per the norms, if players are granted protected ranking, they will not be eligible for any bonus for that year. Not only this, but the players will be unable to participate in any tournament for a minimum of three months, up to a maximum of 12 months, or until such time as the Player notifies BWF that the Player wishes to enter a tournament again.”
Sindhu’s comeback to the court might get delayed until February 2024. However, the shuttler can also stage her comeback earlier, depending on her recovery.
