Former World Number One Kidambi Srikanth is on the cusp of a major comeback, securing his place in the final of the Syed Modi India International, a Super 300 event. This remarkable run marks his first final appearance at this level since his incredible title spree in 2017. The veteran Indian shuttler, a silver medalist at the 2021 BWF World Championships, delivered a commanding performance in the semi-final, overcoming fellow Indian Mithun Manjunath in a tense, three-game battle.
The all-Indian men's singles semi-final was a hard-fought affair, stretching for 59 minutes and keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats. Srikanth, known for his attacking flair and powerful smashes, eventually defeated the younger Manjunath with a score of 21-15, 19-21, 21-13. The victory was particularly sweet for Srikanth, as Manjunath had proven to be a tough opponent in their past encounters.
A Semifinal Showdown
The match began with Srikanth finding his rhythm quickly. He played with great control, using his full repertoire of shots and net play to dominate the first game, winning it comfortably at 21-15.
The second game, however, saw a spirited fightback from the Karnataka shuttler, Manjunath, who is currently ranked lower than Srikanth. Manjunath showcased his strong defense and aggressive net play, managing to take the game 21-19 and push the contest into a decider. Srikanth acknowledged the high quality of his opponent's play, saying that Manjunath always comes up with a special plan against him and he appreciated his tactics. The drift in the court also played a factor, which Srikanth admitted was at times beyond his control in the second game.
Entering the deciding game, Srikanth relied on his wealth of experience. He emphasized the importance of a good start, a goal he successfully achieved, allowing him to take an early lead and maintain his advantage throughout. Showing glimpses of the vintage form that once took him to the World Number One spot, Srikanth closed out the third game decisively at 21-13. The crowd, clearly backing the former champion, lifted his spirits and played a key role in his resurgence.
The Road to the Final
This appearance in the Super 300 final is significant because it ends a long drought since his last major title win in 2017. That year saw Srikanth win four Super Series titles, etching his name in badminton history. While he has had notable achievements since then, including the World Championships silver in 2021, a Super Series or World Tour title has remained elusive.
Srikanth’s opponent in the final will be Jason Gunawan of Hong Kong, who advanced after his opponent, Minoru Koga of Japan, was forced to retire due to an injury. This presents a golden opportunity for Srikanth to cap off a week of excellent performance with the trophy, a moment his fans and the badminton community have eagerly awaited.
Other Indian Shuttlers' Mixed Fortunes
While Srikanth celebrated, the tournament saw mixed results for other Indian players. In the women’s singles, the Indian challenge came to an end in the semi-finals. Unnati Hooda, the top seed, and Tanvi Sharma, who had an excellent run, both suffered defeats. Hooda lost to Neslihan Arın of Turkey in straight games, while Tanvi Sharma, the giant-killer who had defeated former World Champion Nozomi Okuhara earlier, went down to Hina Akechi of Japan.
However, there was cheer in the women's doubles as the defending champions, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, sailed into the final with a straight-game victory over a Malaysian pair. They are now set to face a Japanese duo for the title.
As the final day of the Syed Modi India International approaches, all eyes will be on Kidambi Srikanth. His journey from an injury-marred dip in form to a title clash is a testament to his sheer determination and a clear message that the veteran is far from finished. A victory here would be more than just a title; it would be a complete affirmation of his return to the elite stage of international badminton.
