Kidambi Srikanth defeated World No. 5 Kodai Naraoka 21-15, 11-21, 21-18 at the Kumamoto Masters in Japan on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals.
The victory showcased a renewed defensive grit from Srikanth, who relied on full-stretch dives and precise net play to dismantle the Japanese player’s retrieval game. Midway through the first set at 17-14, Srikanth executed successive full-stretch dives to keep rallies alive, ultimately forcing Naraoka into unforced errors.
That defensive intensity deflated Naraoka’s resolve, allowing Srikanth to control the pace despite a second-set surge from the Japanese finalist. Srikanth now ranks inside the top 35 globally and senses an opening in a men’s singles circuit where multiple players are contending for the top spot. He will face Koki Watanabe of Japan in the next round of the Super 500 tournament.
While Srikanth secured his quarterfinal berth against Japan’s top hope, compatriot Lakshya Sen also advanced at the tournament. Sen defeated China’s Dong Tian Yao 21-8, 21-14 in straight games. Sen, currently ranked 13th globally, easily dismissed the 23-year-old Chinese player, who holds a No. 45 ranking and recently claimed bronze at the China National championships. Sen will face Yushi Tanaka in his next match after Tanaka defeated Victor Lai.
Srikanth faces Koki Watanabe in the quarterfinals of the Kumamoto Masters. The tournament continues through the weekend in Japan, serving as a key stop for players accumulating ranking points toward the end of the season.
Sen takes on Yushi Tanaka next as the competition narrows to the final eight contenders in the men’s singles draw.
Related reading
- HMM Offers Massive Incentives to Encourage Staff Relocation to Busan Headquarters
- Finland Visa Restrictions May Impact Figure Skating World Championships
- National Popular Vote Compact Needs Pennsylvania and Michigan to Reach 270 (daybreakwire.com)
- Dupont: France Must Break “Spiral” of Defeats vs. South Africa (archyde.com)