Kidambi Srikanth will be the most marked man at August’s badminton world championships after reaching three Super Series finals, and winning two: the youngest Super Series in Australia and the most popular one in Indonesia.
On 25th June 2017, when Srikanth beat Olympic and World Champion Chen Long 22-20, 21-16 to lift the Sydney crown, he propelled himself into becoming a serious contender for the Glasgow Worlds, even as he pocketed close to INR 1 crore in prize money and awards in two weeks.
Srikanth already had the home Super Series title in 2015, and a crown in China - in fact, he debuted as champion in the superpower’s backyard beating the game’s greatest, Lin Dan.
Last week, with the Indonesia Premier Super Series, he had won over the game’s most demanding fans, as he overpowered current World No 1 Son Wan Ho in back-to-back weeks.
However, beating Chen Long in a tournament final propels Srikanth into badminton’s stratosphere.
Last month this day, he was just another fighter jostling at World No 24, and only India’s fourth best.
In just six weeks, he has been the biggest mover in world rankings, rising 11 places last week, and set to regain his top-5 status after this triumph.
