Saina Nehwal [Images] achieved a career-best ranking of 41 following a commendable showing in the Korea and Hong Kong Opens.

The 15-year-old from Hyderabad climbed 10 places in the latest International Badminton Federation rankings and maintained her status as India's top women's shuttler.

Saina reached the pre-quarter-finals of the Korean Open, where she lost to Soratja Chansrisukot of Thailand, but avenged the defeat against the world No 33 in the first round of the Hong Kong Open.

Saina however lost in the next round to Zhang Ning of China after putting up a gritty performance.

Ning holds the No 1 spot among women; Xu Huwaein of Germany [Images] is ranked second.

Since her sensational Philippines Open triumph, Saina has climbed a staggering 34 places and was placed at 55 before attaining her previous best ranking of 42 on June 22.

Trupti Murgunde is the next Indian women in the rankings at 80.

In the men's charts, Chetan Anand's unimpressive show at the Hong Kong Open, where he lost in the second round, saw him drop five places to 27.

National champion Anup Sridhar also lost three rungs and is placed at 36 while Arvind Bhat kept his position of 49 intact.

The biggest beneficiary was P Kashyap, who cleared 17 heads and entered into the top 100 at 96.

The 20-year old from Hyderabad pulled off a stunning upset over world No 19 Przemyslaw Wacha of Poland before succumbing to Olympic and World champion Taufiq Hidayat.