Shuttler Srikanth continues with his Super run
Kidambi Srikanth became the first Indian and only fourth male shuttler in history to lift four Super Series titles in a calendar year as he beat Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto in the men’s singles final at French Open. In just 34 minutes, Srikanth beat Nishim- oto 21-14, 21-13 to lift the French Open Super Series titles.
This is Srikanth’s fourth Super Series title this year after he won the Den- mark Open Super Series Premier last Sunday and the Indonesia Super Series Premier and Australian Open Super Series in June earlier this year.
Twice this year, Srikanth has won back-to-back Super Series titles Denmark and French this month and Indonesia and Australia consecutively in June. Only Lee Chong Wei has done that before.The 24-year-old surpassed Saina Nehwal’s record of three Super Series in a year (2010) and with the achievement; he is all set to reach his career- high of world No. 2 in BWF Rankings.
Srikanth was unstoppable and superior to the opponent. He won the first point of the match with Nishimoto putting the shuttle wide. Thereafter, the Japanese displayed some excellent in- tent coupled with good resistance and cross court strokes to take a 9-5. It was the difference in points that seemed to have triggered something in Srikanth and he took over the mantle from there to show the kind of strokes he has been playing since two weeks. Srikanth took six consecutive points to lead 11-9 at the break.
Srikanth didn’t let the momentum drop from there. He played his classic smashes and coupled with Nishimoto’s inability to handle the pressure, Srikanth raced to a 15-10 lead. Srikanth varied the pace of his strokes and kept it simple to force errors from Nishimoto the Japanese unable to control the shuttle started sending it long. Within 16 minutes, Srikanth took the first game 21-14.
The second game began similarly with the Indian racing off to a 4-0 lead. A similar pattern followed with Nishimoto gifting points to Srikanth. Despite a mini fightback, Srikanth lead 11-5 at the breather. Srikanth began playing around with the Japanese thereafter moving him all over the court. With stunning control over the shuttle and brilliantly accurate smashing, Srikanth opened up an 18-12 lead. Nishimoto managed just one more point after which Srikanth won three points in a row to clinch the title. It is a great achievement by an Indian sportsman; it must be rejoiced by Indians.
Report filed by OE News Desk, UK Bureau
OpinionExpress.In
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