Kidambi Srikanth Battles into Malaysia Masters Semifinal After Year-Long Gap

Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth displayed grit and determination to storm into the semifinals of the Malaysia Masters badminton tournament on Friday, marking his first semifinal appearance in over a year.

Ranked 65th globally, Srikanth fought a tough three-game battle against France’s world No. 18 Toma Junior Popov, clinching the win 24-22, 17-21, 22-20 in a fiercely contested quarterfinal that lasted one hour and 14 minutes.

The 32-year-old from Guntur, a silver medallist at the 2021 World Championships, has faced challenges in recent seasons, grappling with form and fitness issues. However, Friday’s performance showed his resilience and tactical maturity, signaling a potential return to top form.

Srikanth’s victory keeps India’s hopes alive at the Malaysia Masters as he progresses to the semifinals, where he will aim to continue his impressive run and vie for a place in the final.