In what can only be described as a vintage Srikanth Kidambi performance, the former World No. 1 dug deep to pull off a sensational comeback and book his place in the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Masters 2025 Super 500 event.
Facing Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen in the Round of 16, Srikanth fought back from significant deficits in both games to clinch a 23-21, 21-17 win and keep his fairytale run from the qualifiers alive.
This wasn’t just a victory — it was a statement. A testament to resilience, grit, and the muscle memory of a champion who refuses to fade away quietly.
From the Brink to Brilliance
Trailing 5-13 in the first game, things looked bleak for the Indian ace. Nhat Nguyen, World No. 33 and coming off a win over Lakshya Sen just last week, was controlling the rallies with speed and precision. Srikanth was struggling to find rhythm, repeatedly forced into errors by Nguyen’s aggressive play.
But then, something clicked.
Srikanth slowed the tempo, started constructing points with more patience, and gradually began reeling Nguyen in. Point by point, rally by rally, he closed the gap, bringing it to 12-16, then 16-18. At 19-20, facing a game point, he produced a stunning flick serve winner and followed it with two aggressive net plays to steal the game 23-21.
It was the kind of mental comeback that typifies a player who has seen the top of the mountain — and still believes he belongs there.
Second Game: Another Turnaround
The drama didn’t end there.
In the second game, Nguyen again came out swinging, racing to an 8-1 lead. But once more, Srikanth refused to panic. His body language remained calm, and the errors began to dry up. He started attacking the backhand corner, forcing short lifts, and pounced on anything loose.
From 1-8, he clawed his way to 8-11 at the break and then surged ahead with a six-point burst that left Nguyen shell-shocked. Srikanth eventually wrapped up the game 21-17, sealing one of his grittiest wins in recent memory.
From Qualifying Rounds to the Final Eight
This result caps a whirlwind few days for Srikanth in Kuala Lumpur. Forced to go through the qualifying rounds due to a ranking drop, he’s now three matches into the main draw and four straight wins deep into the tournament.
- In Qualifying Round 1, he breezed past Kuo Kuan Lin (21-8, 21-13).
- In Qualifying Round 2, he dropped a game but showed character to beat Huang Yu Kai (9-21, 21-12, 21-6).
- In Round of 32, he stunned World No. 6 Lu Guang Zu of China in another three-game thriller (23-21, 13-21, 21-11).
The win over Lu was significant, but this victory over Nguyen might just be more satisfying — because of the fight it demanded from the very first serve.
A Quarterfinal Clash to Watch
Srikanth now faces Frenchman Toma Junior Popov in the quarterfinals. Popov, known for his physical style and deceptive shots, will present a different kind of challenge. But with Srikanth building momentum and confidence, it’s a matchup that promises fireworks.
For Indian badminton fans, this resurgence brings back memories of Srikanth’s golden stretch in 2017, when he won four Super Series titles and climbed to the summit of the world rankings. Injuries and form dips followed, but this week in Malaysia, he’s looked sharper, hungrier, and more committed than he has in months.
More Than Just a Win
What stood out most in Srikanth’s win today wasn’t just the scoreline — it was the poise. In both games, he was down and out. Many might have written off his chances at 5-13 and 1-8. But Srikanth held firm. No wild reactions, no desperation, just belief — and a quiet, burning desire to fight for every point.
He may not be seeded. He may have had to qualify. But Kidambi Srikanth is reminding the badminton world that he’s far from done.
And as Malaysia Masters 2025 rolls into its business end, Srikanth’s story might just be one of the most compelling chapters of this tournament.
Quarterfinal Up Next:
🇮🇳 Srikanth Kidambi vs 🇫🇷 Toma Junior Popov
Stay tuned. The veteran isn’t done writing his comeback script just yet.
