After a clinical show in the first three rounds, India shuttler Kidambi Srikanth bowed out of the World Badminton Championships here on Friday. The Hyderabad boy fought till his last breath against World No 1 Son Wan-ho (South Korea), before going down 21-14, 21-18.
Wan-ho revealed his sharp insights from the first minute, when he drew first blood with a smart cross-court drop shot. But Srikanth untied the ropes, which blocked his flamboyance, with a series of confident strokes. He made it 8-8.
The Indian kept making unforced errors, which paved the way for the Korean to wrap up the first game with a five-point lead (21-14).
Srikanth started the second game with a string of jump smashes but nothing could crumble Wan-ho, who went into the mid-game break with a seven-point lead (11-4). His selection of shots — a combination of delicate drop shots and smashes — took him ahead in no time.
But Srikanth won hearts, when a couple of his deceptive strokes bemused the Korean and the scoreline read 16-10; he almost turned the tide but it was Wan-ho who had the last laugh.
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