Rio 2016 | Kidambi Srikanth storms into quarters

08/15/2016

351

After Saina Nehwal’s loss, Kidambi Srikanth took the responsibility on his shoulders and stormed into the quarters of the men’s singles event at Rio by defeating Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen 21-19, 21-19. Srikanth will face World No. 3 Lin Dan of China in the quarter-final match on August 17.

After emerging as the leader from Group H, India’s Kidambi Srikanth took on Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen, who finished as the leader from Group G. The Dane, who is world No.5, led the head-to-head record 2-1 going into the match, and started the match on a positive note taking a 3-1 lead in the first set.

However, Srikanth bounced back quickly and with some good attacking play took the lead at 4-3. Srikanth, who was playing an attacking game at the start of his career, has changed his game in this Olympic year as he waited for his opportunities and attacked when the opportunity presented itself. He went into the break with an 11-9 lead and kept the lead from there on with some good body smashes against the Dane. Srikanth finally took the set 21-19 with a lovely smash that left Jorgensen stranded at mid-court.

Srikanth was dominating the game and just needed to do the same in the second set to progress to the quarters. And he did just that. Although Jorgensen once again started with a lead, Srikanth bounced back and once again went into the break with a 11-10 lead. But, Jorgensen was not in a mood to surrender tamely, and took the lead at 14-13 against the Indian. But, Srikanth drew par at 17-17 with some classy smashes and took a 20-18 lead. Although Jorgensen saved the first match point, Kidambi made a down-the-line smash to finish the match.

Srikanth will now face World No.3 and 2008 and 2012 Olympics gold medallist Lin Dan in the quarters on Wednesday (August 17).