Srikanth attributes French Open triumph to mental strength

Ace Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth attributes his spectacular French Open victory to his mental toughness, in a chat with Sportstar.

Srikanth Kidambi celebrates after winning the French Open Super Series title on Sunday.

India’s champion shuttler, Kidambi Srikanth, fresh from his French Open title-triumph, attributes his latest win – his fourth Super Series title this year – to mental toughness.

“In fact, it is not just me, it is same with all the Indian shuttlers. We are lot more tougher mentally now and that is really helping us,” Srikanth informed Sportstar after his win in Paris on Sunday night.

READ: Srikanth clinches French Open, marks fourth Super Series title of the year

“Winning a Super Series is always a great feeling and I am glad that I could sustain the winning momentum from Denmark performance into this event too. Yes, it is a wonderful experience to pick another big title,” he said.

Commenting on the final against Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto on Sunday, Srikanth said at this level, no one will be an easy opponent. “To win against anyone, you have to play to your best and glad that I was able to do that,” he said.

“Honestly, I never thought that I would win four Super Series titles this year, especially coming back from a three-month injury lay-off (from October to December last year) which has been the toughest phase of my career. It has been a fantastic journey so far,” said Srikanth.

“Yes, my next aim is to win the Senior Nationals (in Nagpur next week) before moving on for the China and the Hong Kong Opens. Well, a win in the BWF World Super Series final in Dubai should be the icing on the cake,” he said.

On his game, Srikanth feels that there is not any one area where he would be focussing and leaving the rest. “There is a conscious effort by all of us (Indian shuttlers) to keep improving with each tournament,” he said.

On beating his friend and sparring partner H. S. Prannoy in the semifinal , a smiling Srikanth feels it is not really tough to face someone like him but it is obvious that anyone who gives that 10 per cent extra will win the game in such contests.

“It is great to have two Indians in the semis, if you look at that way and it would have been even more bigger if it were to be a final,” he said.