Kidambi Srikanth was originally a doubles player and did not achieve good results in singles competitions right away. He used to be a pretty bad runner and could not move quickly around the court. In 2014, he almost died of a brain fever. However, he still managed to become one of the greatest athletes. And if you want to get to know this Indian badminton player better, then we will tell you where to start.
Top Power Plays in Kidambi Srikanth’s Career
In every sport, there are outstanding matches. Badminton is no exception. Usually, the badminton odds on underdogs are extremely high because few expect them to win. However, Kidambi Srikanth managed to win even when he was not among the favourites.
Dominating the 2017 Indonesian Open Final
This tournament was long remembered by the fans. At first, Srikanth masterfully outplayed his competitors. In the final, he met with Japanese Kazumasa Sakai and emerged victorious. This alone was enough to captivate the spectators.
However, the end of the final match was even more memorable. Not even a second had passed since the end, and Srikanth threw down his racket and ran to hug his coach, Mulyo Handoyo.
Since Indonesians fully share a deep respect for this coach, this gesture seemed especially sweet to everyone. In the post-match interview, he also expressed his gratitude to the coach. After this tournament, Kidambi Srikanth’s popularity skyrocketed.
Stunning Performance at the 2017 Denmark Open
There were many interesting victories in the 2017 Denmark Open. However, the topic of the day was undoubtedly Kidambi Srikanth. In the final, he met Viktor Axelsen, to whom he had previously lost three times in a row. The spectators were eagerly awaiting the outcome of this confrontation. Evil tongues claimed that this match would be the fourth defeat of the Indian.
The match started with the Danish athlete in the lead. He repelled the attacks quite comfortably. However, the balance of power then changed. In the second game, Kidambi Srikanth was already in the lead. The opponents were really equal, and the tension grew. At the end of the game, they were neck and neck until the Dane made a mistake and gave the victory to his opponent.
Epic Showdown Against Chen Long
This fateful meeting took place at the 2017 Australia Open. Chen Long was the Olympic champion at the time. The previous five meetings ended in the Indian athlete’s favour. However, this time, he rode his luck. He won with a score of 22-20, 21-16 and set a kind of record. The fact is that just a week before that, he won the Indonesian Open Super Series Premier.
Defeating Viktor Axelsen in the India Open
This match between Kidambi Srikanth and Viktor Axelsen was also tense. It was obvious that these opponents were worth each other. Both were clearly nervous before the match and at the beginning of the game. And the Danish badminton player was the first to pull himself together. He managed to take advantage of his opponent’s mistakes and won the first game with a score of 18-21.
However, the Kidambi also managed to pull himself together and turn the game around. He won the tournament, leaving his opponent no chance to win.
Memorable Rally at the World Championships
If you thought that all the big wins ended in 2017, you are wrong. At the 2021 World Championships, Kidambi Srikanth showed that he is not to be written off. He lost in the final, but the silver medal he won was more than deserved. Silver doesn’t seem that impressive? Then, consider the fact that he became the first Indian player to reach the final and the first Indian to win a silver medal. This victory raised the prestige of his home country. And Srikanth’s popularity among his countrymen skyrocketed.
What Makes Srikanth’s Power Plays Stand Out
Obviously, all these victories did not come out of nowhere. So, let’s talk about the features of the game that distinguish Kidambi Srikanth among badminton players.
Precision and Agility in Attack
At the beginning of the article, we mentioned that Srikanth initially had problems with running. This inevitably affected the speed and quality of his attacks. But those days are long gone. Now, he moves like lightning. What is especially impressive is his perfectly honed movements. He does not fuss and does not miss. It seems as if a computer calculates the optimal trajectory in his head.
This rare combination of precision and speed allows Srikanth to outpace his competitors easily. Usually, fast players make mistakes sooner or later. However, this is not the case with our hero. After a quick and deft move, he strikes the ball accurately.
Tactical Shot Selection
Kidambi Srikanth’s signature stroke is a powerful attack. He moves sharply almost to the net to kill the shuttlecock with a crushing blow. Such sharp and almost aggressive movements often frighten opponents. However, there is nothing in them other than precise calculation and well-thought-out tactics.
This is the result of long training and skill development. Such a blow, applied in time, allows you to defeat even a serious opponent. The number of victories in leading championships is a clear confirmation of this.
Lessons to Learn from Kidambi Srikanth’s Play
Examples of successful people allow us to learn useful skills. And this is not about badminton. Even people far from sports have something to learn from Kidambi Srikanth.
Consistency and Mental Toughness
The first thing that distinguishes this athlete is his incredible consistency. He simply went towards his dream without turning anywhere. No problems or circumstances prevented him from achieving his goal. He is extremely hard-working and gives his all in training.
Also, it is easy to get nervous and lose in big tournaments. Of course, Kidambi Srikanth is also a human being. And he gets nervous. However, every time, he manages to pull himself together and focus on the game. It is not for nothing that he was the world’s number one.
Training Techniques for Improved Power and Speed
What would you do if you weren’t cut out for a particular sport? Most would simply take up something else. Not Srikanth. Realising his weaknesses, he simply worked twice as hard to improve them. He needed to increase his speed of movement, so he worked on running. More punching power was needed, and that became the main focus of his training for a long time.
This example shows that if you don’t give up and keep working, the results will be amazing. At the same time, Kidambi Srikanth was never afraid to experiment and try something new. He changed his training tactics and chose what brought the best results.
Conclusion
Kidambi Srikanth is an outstanding sportsman and a real pride of his country. He has raised India’s prestige in the international arena. In addition, he is an extraordinary person. His hard work can only be envied. And if you want to appreciate him, be sure to watch the matches described in this article.
