Indian badminton fans have a reason to smile again as the former World No. 1, Kidambi Srikanth, made a strong statement at the Malaysia Masters 2025, advancing to the quarterfinals with a spirited performance. After a rough patch in recent times, Srikanth seems to be regaining form and confidence on the court.
A Gritty Win Against Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen
Srikanth faced Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen, ranked 33rd in the world, in the second round of the Malaysia Masters 2025. Despite the ranking gap — Srikanth himself has slipped to 65 due to inconsistent performances — the Indian ace played with grit and precision.
Srikanth won in consecutive games with scores of 23-21 and 21-17 during the 59-minute encounter. This was by no means an easy task. Both players put a lot of pressure on one another in the first game, which was especially close, but Srikanth remained composed in the crucial situations. He established a strong lead in the second game and used some astute shot selections and court coverage to seal the victory.
This victory is a major turning point for Srikanth, who has been trying to recover from a string of early tournament defeats. At the Malaysia Masters 2025, he seemed to be in sync with his confidence, rhythm, and movement.
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A French Challenge Is Coming
With this victory, Srikanth progresses to the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Masters 2025, where he will face the formidable French opponent Toma Junior Popov. Popov just secured his place in the final eight by defeating Indian player Ayush Shetty in two consecutive matches – 21-13, 21-17.
The current form of Srikanth will be put to the test in this matchup. Popov, who is renowned for his aggressive play and excellent movement, won’t make things simple. But if Srikanth can maintain the same level of intensity and focus, he has a real shot at reaching the semifinals — something he hasn’t done in a while at a major tournament.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a great day for all Indian players. Sathish Karunakaran bowed out after a loss to Toma’s brother and doubles partner, Christo Popov. Sathish fought hard but couldn’t keep up with the pace, losing 14-21, 16-21.
Mixed Doubles Bright Spot: Crasto and Kapila Shine
In the mixed doubles event at the Malaysia Masters 2025, there was more good news for Indian fans.
The pair of Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila put in a gritty performance to reach the quarterfinals. They battled past France’s Lea Palermo and Julien Maio in a three-game thriller: 21-17, 18-21, 21-15.
Their next match will be against the talented Chinese pair Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin, who are considered among the strongest mixed doubles teams right now. It’ll be a challenging tie, but Crasto and Kapila have shown they have the tenacity to pull off big wins.
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