Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth stormed into his first BWF final in six years at the Malaysia Masters 2025, defeating Yushi Tanaka. The former world No. 1 will now face China’s Li Shi Feng in the men’s singles final, aiming to end his long title drought.
Indian badminton ace Kidambi Srikanth has reignited hopes of a strong comeback with a brilliant performance at the Malaysia Masters Super 500 tournament. On Saturday, the 32-year-old advanced to his first men’s singles final in six years at a BWF event, defeating Japan’s Yushi Tanaka in straight games with scores of 21-18, 24-22.
Displaying glimpses of his old brilliance, Srikanth impressed with his sharp net play, precise smashes, and aggressive shot-making, which proved too much for world No. 23 Tanaka in a tightly contested semifinal. The win marks a significant milestone in Srikanth’s career as he looks to recapture the form that once made him the world No. 1.
The semifinal win puts Srikanth into his first BWF World Tour final since the 2019 India Open, where he had finished as runner-up. His last title victory dates back to 2017, a memorable year in which he clinched four major titles and ascended to the top of the world rankings.
However, the years since have been riddled with injuries and inconsistent form, causing Srikanth to slip down the rankings to his current world No. 65. Despite this, his performance in Kuala Lumpur has shown that he still possesses the skill and determination to compete at the highest level.
Speaking after his victory, Srikanth said he was “pretty happy” to have reached a final after such a long gap. “Physically, I’ve been feeling well. I haven’t played much in the past year, including qualifying rounds, so maybe I lost the touch of regular match play. But somehow everything worked well this time,” he reflected.
He emphasized the importance of fitness and recovery in his current approach. “I haven’t really planned anything specific. It’s about staying injury-free, training hard, and playing whenever possible. I want to give myself enough time to recover, train properly, and then compete.”
Srikanth’s next challenge comes in the form of China’s Li Shi Feng, a formidable opponent with a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over the Indian. Li, known for his speed and consistency, will pose a stiff test for Srikanth in the final showdown on Sunday.
For Srikanth, this match is not just about the title, but also about proving that he still belongs among the elite of world badminton. A win here could potentially mark the beginning of a new chapter in his storied career.
As he gears up for the final, fans will be hoping to see more of the vintage Srikanth who once dominated the global stage. The final against Li Shi Feng promises to be a thrilling clash between experience and current form.
