Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Veteran Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth has advanced to the semifinals of the Malaysia Masters 2025 after a grueling quarterfinal victory over France's Toma Junior Popov. The former World No. 1 emerged triumphant in a thrilling 74-minute encounter, winning the deciding game 22-20.
A Hard-Fought Quarterfinal Victory
Ranked 65th globally but with a decorated career that includes a World Championships and Asian Games silver medal, Srikanth displayed remarkable composure against Popov. He narrowly clinched the opening game 24-22, but Popov retaliated strongly to take the second 21-17, forcing a decisive third game. The final game was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Srikanth ultimately holding his nerve to secure the 22-20 win.
"It's been a while since I've won this many matches in a tournament, and I hope I can continue to do so," said Srikanth after his win. "I've always been trying to better myself, and this win just proves that whatever I'm doing is working." The 32-year-old, who enjoyed a stellar 2017 season with four titles and was part of India's historic Thomas Cup triumph in 2022, is now the sole Indian representative remaining in the BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament.
Momentum Shifts and Strategic Play
The match was a testament to Srikanth's resilience, marked by relentless pressure and significant momentum shifts. He started strong, grabbing a 5-1 lead in the first game before Popov leveled it at 7-7, initiating an intense back-and-forth battle that Srikanth eventually edged. In the second game, Popov came out firing, establishing a 6-2 lead. Despite Srikanth drawing even at 14-all, the Frenchman maintained his advantage to take the game and push for a decider.
The third game was a true spectacle. Srikanth initially led 5-2, but Popov surged ahead to an 11-7 lead at the interval. With the Frenchman holding a slender 16-14 advantage, Srikanth unleashed a powerful smash to earn three match points. However, nerves seemed to get the better of him as he squandered all three. Yet, Popov faltered under pressure, committing two unforced errors that allowed Srikanth to seal the victory and celebrate his hard-earned triumph.
Preparations Paying Off
Known for his natural shot-making but sometimes prone to unforced errors, Srikanth's recent performance reflects the fruits of his intense training. Over the past three months, he has focused on improving his fitness and sharpening his ability to inject pace into rallies, working closely with coaches RMV Gurusaidutt and Parupalli Kashyap. This renewed focus is evident in his recent tournament outings, including a quarterfinal appearance at the Thailand Open Super 300 this year, and his last semifinal runs at the Swiss and Macau events in 2023.
Semifinal Showdown and Other Results
Srikanth will now face Japan’s Yushi Tanaka in the semifinal on Saturday. Tanaka previously eliminated fellow Indian H. S. Prannoy in the Round of 16 and then defeated Christo Popov (Toma Junior’s brother) in his quarterfinal match. The other men’s singles semifinal will feature fourth seed Kodai Naraoka of Japan against second seed Li Shi Feng of China.
Unfortunately for India, the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto were knocked out in their quarterfinal match. They put up a strong fight against top seeds Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin of China in the first game but ultimately lost 22-24, 13-21 in a 35-minute contes
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