Indian badminton ace Kidambi Srikanth started his Thailand Masters BWF Super 300 campaign on a high note, securing a straight-game victory in the men’s singles opening round. The former world No.1 outplayed Israel’s Daniil Dubovenko 21-13, 21-18 on Wednesday, advancing to the second round with confidence.
“It’s all about consistent improvement. There’s always room to grow,” said Srikanth after his win.
Srikanth’s Dominant Performance
Srikanth wasted no time asserting his dominance, surging to a 6-0 lead in the opening game. By the mid-game interval, he had extended his advantage to 11-4, maintaining complete control to wrap up the first game 21-13.
The second game saw Dubovenko fight back, leveling the score at 15-15 after trailing early. However, Srikanth held his nerve and accelerated in the closing stages, clinching the match 21-18.
Next Challenge: Jason Gunawan
Srikanth will now face Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan in the Round of 16, a crucial test in his quest for the title.
Mixed Results for Indian Shuttlers
While Srikanth’s performance was inspiring, other Indian players experienced a mix of victories and setbacks.
Men’s Singles
- S. Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian fought back from a game down to defeat Malaysia’s June Wei Cheam 15-21, 21-15, 21-19. He now faces Indonesia’s Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo.
- Ayush Shetty exited the tournament after a 15-21, 17-21 loss to Malaysia’s Jing Hong Kok.
- Mithun Manjunath also suffered an early defeat, losing 14-21, 13-21 to Malaysia’s Sholeh Aidil.
Mixed Doubles
- Rohan Kapoor & Ruthvika Shivani Gadde cruised past Thailand’s Weeraphat Phakjarung & Sararat Chueboca 21-8, 21-16.
- They will next face the Thai duo of Ratchapol Makkasasithorn & Nattamon Laisuan.
Men’s Doubles
- Ruben Kumar & Hariharan Amsakarunan secured a convincing 21-18, 21-12 victory over Thailand’s Pannawat Jamtubtim & Ratchapol Makkasasithorn.
What’s Next?
With multiple Indian players still in contention, the Thailand Masters remains an exciting tournament for Indian badminton fans. Kidambi Srikanth’s upcoming match against Jason Gunawan will be a key battle to watch, as he looks to maintain his strong momentum.
Stay tuned for more updates on India’s journey at the Thailand Masters!