Since the time when Kidambi Srikanth was 25 — and his 25th year was indeed memorable with four Tour titles in 2017 — defenses of men’s singles shuttlers have improved exponentially. Six of eight quarter-finalists at the Malaysian Masters were under age 26, and the ruthless young brigade now, is bound to ask questions of his attacking game, that he hardly encountered back in the day.
Toma Junior Popov, a combative French shuttler of Bulgarian heritage, ranked No.18 in the world, has an entrenched attacking game laced with tricks. But it’s his stubborn retrieving defense that was wielding the power to neutralize the vintage Srikanth attacking game, which hasn’t forgotten its sense of creativity and adventure even if he’s ranked 65.
It was in countering Popov that Srikanth pulled out an auxiliary plan that his courtside coach Guru Saidutt had no inkling of, but which helped him win 24-22, 17-21, 22-20 making his first Super 500 semifinal since 2022.
Story continues below this ad
Kidambi Srikanth celebrates his win over Toma Popov at the Malaysia Masters 2025. (Credit: Badminton Photo)
Srikanth is best known for his big smash, which is a set-up shot, and the follow-up kill where he stomps at the net and sends a push-kill on the opponent’s body after he’s reeling from having retrieved the big smash. On Friday at the famed Axiata Arena, Srikanth sent the Malaysian crowd into tizzying hysterics, with a third step counter, after Popov parried off the body shots. Wholly improvising after Popov started fending off the hits to his torso, Srikanth surprised by using the body attack as his set-up and followed the follow-up with a quick deep push to Popov’s flanks immediately after.
The body smashes were often decoys and at other times scare tactics to pin Popov to the spot — keep him guessing, fearing and haunting his judgment. The tall French shuttler kept worrying if another of those body smashes was headed his way, even if none fetched the Indian any points. “The plan was to keep at the net, take the shuttle high and send lifts that would push Toma back. Srikanth surprised with the body shots,” Guru laughed. He first surprised his own coach, and then the opponent. The Malaysians were riveted.
From 7-7 to 22-22, both shuttlers went neck and neck in the opener, and Srikanth showed pristine wristy-magic at 18-18 tapping the shuttle with a parallel racquet to the floor, sending it skimming to the opposite left front corner, from the right. To get the decisive edge at 23-22, Srikanth brought out the body attack and to win 24-22, the flank hit.
Popov doesn’t back off from taking his chances, and he led for most part in Set 2, winning it 21-17, as Srikanth couldn’t pull away from 15-15. He even smashed one wide and looked like lapsing into old frittering habits. Rooted to a midcourt spot from where he tried to control the rally, there was a hint of passiveness even in his lifts as his 5th match in the week looked a familiar down spiral of errors. Deja vu and the opponent were both French.
Story continues below this ad
In the decider, Srikanth gave off the impression that he was fading out, trailing 7-11 in the third. “The shuttles were fast today and Srikanth took some time to adjust. It was not easy to control but we had a plan to send lifts to the back court,” Guru said. Nailing those was the part of execution that gave Srikanth the leeway to open up the court.
Toma brought in the flat game in response — not unexpected, but tough to soak up the pressure of the speed. “Toma forced the drive exchanges, but Srikanth handled it well. The intensity was high and the pace was very hot. But Srikanth believed in himself,” Guru explained, as the 32-year-old survived the onslaught from the younger rival who was making him play across his body testing his agility.
The Guntur pro, a former World No.1, has a cult following in almost every badminton outpost — clumps of fans in Indonesia, Denmark, Singapore, Japan and China who dig his stylish strokeplay, and indulge his losses, showering irrational gush on that one moment of magic, when his talent skyrockets. Malaysians are no different and at 19-17, he sent a whipped flat cross smash that zipped so quick, an entire stand of locals filed into the ground level to wait for his autograph.
Then, Srikanth ‘Srikanthed’.
Three match points at 20-17 in the decider, and three errors promptly came out – a notorious variety to them, one going for the line, another dumped into the net. At 20-20, Toma had every reason to expect a Srikanth implosion that’s happened dozens of times in the last three years.
Story continues below this ad
Guru sat tight, saying nothing, biting back advice because Srikanth had been in such flow. “He took risky chances at 20-17, but thankfully backed off at 20-20. I didn’t say anything till then but at 20-20 after a blunder drop, told him to calm down, back off and revert to the plan which had worked so well.”
A cross court lift followed, and Popov was again pushed into the hazardous back court. He was bound to err from there, it only needed Srikanth to lure him out of position. His reward — semis at Malaysia, a rare venue where he hasn’t won a title.
Yushi Tanaka, a pacy runner and busy retriever with acrobatic reach, will fetch up next. The 25-year-old, ranked No.23 is coming off a good week of results, and like Srikanth was fending off the other Popov brother, Christo, for 69 minutes.
“Tanaka beat Prannoy comfortably in Round 2. Tomorrow should be 50-50, but Srikanth stands a chance,” Guru said. Plans will get drawn up, and then India’s finest male shuttler, will sprinkle his own ideas, should his fitness hold and allow him a dash of creativity. Tanaka’s speed is not easy to counter, but it’s not often that Srikanth finds himself playing to a packed house on semi-final Saturdays these days.
