Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth has reached his first men’s singles final at a BWF World Tour event in six years after an impressive straight-game win over Japan’s Yushi Tanaka in the Malaysia Masters Super 500 on Saturday.
The 32-year-old, who clinched a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships, rolled back the years with a commanding performance marked by sharp net play, quick reflexes, and aggressive shot-making.
He defeated world No. 23 Tanaka 21-18, 24-22 in a tightly contested semifinal.
This will be Srikanth’s first BWF final since finishing runner-up at the 2019 India Open, and he will be aiming for his first title since 2017—a golden year that saw him claim four titles and ascend to the top of the world rankings.
Now ranked world No. 65, Srikanth has struggled with form and fitness in recent years, but his return to the final signals a resurgence.
Speaking after the match, Srikanth expressed his delight at making it this far again:
“Pretty happy,” he said.
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“Physically, I’ve been feeling good. I didn’t get to play many matches last year, especially not under the lights or in big events. So maybe I lost a bit of that match touch. But somehow, everything’s come together this time.”
Srikanth will now face China’s Li Shi Feng in the title clash on Sunday, hoping to cap off his comeback with a long-awaited championship victory.
