NEW DELHI: Kidambi Srikanth’s good run on the $475,000 Malaysia Masters badminton match got here to an finish on Sunday after he misplaced within the closing to second seed Li Shi Feng of China.
India’s Ok Srikanth in motion towards China’s Li Shi Feng in his males’s singles closing on the Malaysia Masters. (AP)
It had been a protracted week for India’s world No.65, who needed to come by means of the qualifiers to achieve the primary draw earlier than reaching his first closing in three-and-a-half years. However dealing with the reigning Asian Video games champion, Srikanth regarded fully drained, shedding 11-21, 9-21 in 36 minutes on the Axiata Area in Kuala Lumpur.
It was Srikanth’s fourth consecutive loss to the previous All England champion of their 5 conferences. The one time the previous world No.1 beat Li was on the 2021 World Championships, which was additionally the final closing on the tour earlier than Sunday. Srikanth had in that match turn into solely the third Indian, after Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu, to achieve the ultimate of the Worlds.
“The chair umpire was also asking, ‘where have you been?’ I didn’t know people really missed me,” Srikanth joked. “But yeah, very happy to be back again. I fell during the Singapore Open last year and had to take a little time off. It got a little extended, more than I thought,” he mentioned after the ultimate.
“I also got married in November, so that was another break. I started from January. It’s always tough when you’re coming back from an injury and also from a break. And then when you haven’t really played too many matches it’s not easy to come directly and play the tournament. The positive of everything is that I’m feeling better physically. I just want to continue from here,” the 32-year-old mentioned.
The seasoned participant’s wonderful run will probably be welcomed as Indian badminton searches for revival at elite degree after ending with out a medal within the 2024 Paris Olympics. At his peak, Srikanth reached the finals of 5 Tremendous Collection occasions in 2017, successful 4. Nonetheless, Pullela Gopichand’s protege is exhibiting sturdy indicators of a resurgence.
Srikanth moved higher, attacked on the web and unleashed his killer smash of previous to win many factors, defeating a lot greater ranked opponents, together with world’s prime 10 gamers in Kuala Lumpur.
“It’s been a pretty good week. I’m happy with how it went. It was not exactly the way I wanted it to be today, but Li played really well. I’m just very happy to be back playing, I just want to keep myself happy.
“There was a point in my career where I was used to standing there (on the podium). It’s been a while, so to be back again on the podium feels really special.”