Korea Masters 2024: Kiran George falls to top seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn in semis
India’s Kiran George was defeated by top seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the men’s singles semifinals of the Korea Masters badminton tournament on Saturday.
Published : Nov 09, 2024 10:02 IST , Chennai - 1 MIN READ
Kiran George in action. (File Photo) | Photo Credit: RAGESH K
India’s Kiran George was defeated by top seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the men’s singles semifinals of the Korea Masters badminton tournament on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Indian shuttler lost in straight games, 12-21, 20-22, in a match that lasted 53 minutes.
Earlier, George, ranked World No. 44, pulled off an impressive victory over fifth-seeded Takuma Obayashi of Japan in the quarterfinals. George triumphed 21-14, 21-16, securing a spot in the semifinals with a dominant performance.
The semifinal loss brought an end to India’s campaign in the tournament. George kept it tight in the opening game, staying level at 5-5 before Kunlavut pulled ahead to 11-6 at the break.
The Thai shuttler extended his lead further, moving to 17-8 after the interval, and quickly sealed the first game.
In the second game, Kunlavut surged to a 13-4 lead, but Kiran mounted a sensational fightback, levelling the score at 20-20.
However, it was Kunlavut who held his nerves to win the final two points and close out the match.
(With inputs from PTI)