Find out how Srikanth goes down fighting against World No.1

Kidambi Srikanth lost to World No.1 in straight sets. File Pic
Kidambi Srikanth lost to World No.1 in straight sets.
File Pic

Internet Desk: The world came crashing down for Kidambi Srikanth when he missed a golden opportunity to win a medal for India at World Championship. He lost to World rank No. 1 Son Wan Ho of Korea in straight sets. Srikanth was India’s best performer in the tournament when he was the winner of back to back titles of Indonesia and Australia. In the game against Son Wan, the Indian shuttler was outclassed and decimated by the No. 1 in a 21-14, 21-18 sets scores.

Srikanth started the game in a high note with a 6-1 win and then ultimately lost the game.

However, Son Wan managed to move ahead and a return from Srikanth going to net helped the Korean to have the 11-8 advantage at the first break.

The duo looked to outwit each other by changing the angles and pace of their strokes during the rallies. Srikanth reduced the margin to 12-13 but the Korean once again managed to move up to a 15-12 lead with a deceptive back hand return.

Srikanth’s errors helped Son Wan to move to 19-13. The Korean grabbed six game point opportunity and sealed it when the Indian hit the net twice.

After the change of sides, Srikanth struggled to get his length right and his returns missed the baseline twice. The Indian even lost his left shoe during one of the rallies.

Srikanth struggle with his precision and placement of strokes and it helped Son Wan to eventually enter the breather with a handsome seven-point advantage.

After the break, Srikanth played a good rally with patience and it helped him to win the point but he seemed to go back to his power game, which backfired as the Korean kept moving ahead to 13-5.

Srikanth changed gears then and strengthened his defence to reel off seven straight points, making it 12-16 but Son Wan managed to break the streak with a return that found the Indian short at the forecourt.

The Indian missed the line again and also hit the net to allow Son Wan move to 19-14 advantage.

The Korean misjudged a shuttler to gift a point to Srikanth, who replied with a cross court smash to reduce the deficit to 17-19. Another smash from Srikanth and it was 18-19.

However, Son Wan grabbed the match point when Srikanth rushed into a shot and hit the net. The Indian once again found the net to hand over the match to the Korean and see his 13-match winning streak lay in tatters.