When it comes to badminton in India, one name that stands out is that of the legendary Saina Nehwal. She has been a major force in the game, both in India and internationally, and is widely regarded as the ‘Queen of Badminton’ in the country. However, there is another name that has been making waves in the badminton world in recent times – Kidambi Srikanth. He is slowly but surely establishing himself as the ‘King of Badminton’ in India.
The Rise of Kidambi Srikanth
Kidambi Srikanth was born in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh in 1990. He started playing badminton at the age of eight and was soon spotted by Pullela Gopichand, the legendary badminton player and coach. Gopichand took Srikanth under his wing and nurtured him into the player he is today.
Srikanth had a steady rise in the badminton world, winning the Junior National Championships in 2008 and the Senior National Championships in 2012. His first major international tournament win came in 2013 when he won the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold. He went on to win the China Open Super Series in 2014 and the India Open Grand Prix Gold in 2015.
Srikanth’s Breakthrough Year
2017 was a breakthrough year for Srikanth as he won four Super Series titles in a single calendar year – the Indonesia Open, the Australian Open, the Denmark Open and the French Open. This made him the first Indian to achieve this feat and also the only player in the world to have won four Super Series titles in a year since the introduction of the Super Series format in 2006.
He went on to win the BWF World Tour Finals in 2018, becoming the first Indian to win the tournament. His stellar performances that year earned him the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri Award.
Srikanth’s Achievements
Srikanth currently holds the record for the most number of Super Series titles with twelve, and is one of the few players to have reached the world number one ranking in the badminton world. He has also won the Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2018 and the bronze medal at the Asian Games in 2018.
Srikanth has been a consistent performer in the international circuit, reaching the quarterfinals and semifinals of numerous tournaments. He has also reached the finals of the World Championships twice and the Olympics once, although he has yet to win any of these prestigious tournaments.
The Future of Kidambi Srikanth
At the age of 29, Srikanth is still in the prime of his career and is sure to have many more successes in the future. He is currently ranked 6th in the world, and is looking to break into the top 5. He will also be aiming to win a major international tournament, such as the World Championships or the Olympics, in the near future.
Srikanth is an inspiration for the upcoming badminton players in India, and with his consistent performances, he is slowly but surely establishing himself as the ‘King of Badminton’ in India.
Conclusion
Kidambi Srikanth is one of the most successful badminton players in the world and is quickly establishing himself as the ‘King of Badminton’ in India. He has achieved numerous successes in his career and is still in the prime of his career. With his consistent performances, he is sure to have many more successes in the future.