Thai badminton star Kunlavut Vitidsarn reclaims world No. 1 ranking

2026-03-13 - 06:34

BANGKOK — Kunlavut Vitidsarn has reclaimed the world No. 1 spot in men’s singles in the latest rankings released by the Badminton World Federation on 10 March. The Thai badminton star, widely known as “View,” returned to the top of the world rankings after nine months. His rise followed a strong performance at the All England Open Badminton Championships 2026 in Birmingham, one of the oldest and most prestigious tournaments on the World Tour Super 1000 circuit. Kunlavut advanced to the semi-finals of the tournament, marking his best-ever result at the event. In the previous four editions, he had been eliminated in the second round. The ranking race also shifted after Shi Yuqi of China, the defending champion and world No. 1 at the time, was unexpectedly knocked out in the first round. The result allowed Kunlavut to overtake Shi in the ranking points and reclaim the top position. Kunlavut previously held the world No. 1 ranking last year, and his return to the top spot further cements his status as one of the world’s leading badminton players.