Denmark Open SSP, Finals: Kidambi Srikanth ends India’s 38-year wait for 2nd trophy in men’s singles.
With this win, Srikanth clinched his third Super Series title in 2017. He is only the sixth player in badminton history to reach four men’s singles Super Series finals. He is also the second Indian after Saina Nehwal to win three Super Series titles in a year.
Earlier this year, the Hyderabadi had won the Indonesia Super Series Premier and the Australia Open Super Series. Srikanth took home a prize money of Rs 36.61 lakh for his effort in Odense.
Kidambi Srikanth could not have asked for a more conducive valedictory script to the $750,000 Denmark Open. He had been asked to write it himself.
In a matter of 25 minutes of embarrassingly one-sided action, the 24-year-old eighth-ranked Indian secured the fifth Superseries title of his career, and the winner’s cheque of $56,000, with a 21-10, 21-5 victory over unseeded 37-year-old South Korean Lee Hyun Il, who could barely move on the court in the aftermath of his excruciatingly lengthy and demanding 92-minute semi-final battle the previous day over his top-seeded compatriot, Son Wan Ho.
Delighted with his victory Srikanth said that he did not expect such an easy final. “Very happy to win another title. It’s a good game. He must have been tired after yesterday’s long match. I am really happy with the way I have played today and I thank everyone for supporting me so much here. It has been a fantastic week for me. I am looking forward to coming back here and defend the title,” said Srikanth adding that he was still cautious even after winning the first game very easily.
In the second game Srikanth went into the break with a 10-point lead at 11-1. He lost that one point by his own mistake when he served the shuttle into the net. Thereafter, he eased to victory with a huge margin.