Indonesia Open Super Series: Kidambi Srikanth becomes first Indian to win men’s singles title
June 19, 2017
Star shuttler Kidambi Srikanth became the first Indian to win the Indonesia Super Series on Sunday by defeating unseeded Kazumasa Sakai of Japan in the men’s singles category.
Srikanth eased through the match in straight games as he beat Sakai 21-11, 21-19.
World no.22 Srikanth will rise to his career high ranking of world no.2 when the next BWF Rankings are released.
Srikanth used net play very cleverly in the first game to his advantage. He made Sakai go back and forth and created attacking opportunities for himself.
The second game was much more of a battle as Sakai began anticipating Srikanth’s shots well thus gaining an edge to go into the break with an 11-6 advantage.
Srikanth fought back well after the break and began to find angles to put Sakai in uncomfortable situations to make it 13-13.
It was neck-and-neck from there with both the players fighting hard for each point.
With Sakai taking the lead 19-18, Srikanth used quick attacking strokes to trouble Sakai and won three straight points to win the match.
This was Srikanth’s second consecutive Super Series final, after he reached the summit clash at Singapore Open where he lost to compatriot B Sai Praneeth.
With the win, Srikanth clinched his third Super Series title after he had notched up victories at the 2014 China Open and the 2015 India Open.
