Srikanth Kidambi vs Yushi Tanaka Live Score, Badminton Malaysia Masters 2025: Can Indian shuttler make his way to the final?
Srikanth vs Tanaka Live Score, Malaysia Masters 2025, Badminton Semifinal Live Scorecard Online Today Match: Srikanth Kidambi will take on Yushi Tanaka of Japan in the Malaysia Masters semifinal on Saturday hoping to repeat Friday's spirited performance against Toma Junior Popov of France where he prevailed 24-22, 17-21, 22-20 in the quarterfinal.
The 32-year-old who is a 2021 World Championships silver medallist, notched up five straight wins starting from the qualification rounds to reach the business end of a BWF World Tour event after struggling for form for the past couple of years. Srikanth's semifinal opponent Tanaka beat France's Christo Popov, brother of Toma Junior, 21-18 16-21 21-6 in another men's singles quarterfinal duel on Saturday. Tanaka had earlier beaten HS Prannoy in straight games in the second round.
'It's been a while since I've won this many matches in a tournament and I hope I can continue to do so. I've always been trying to better myself and this win just proves that whatever I'm doing is working,' said Srikanth, the former world no.1, who had won four titles in a stellar 2017 season and was part of India's historic Thomas Cup triumph in 2022.
Kidambi Srikanth in action vs Toma Popov at the Malaysia Masters 2025. (Badminton Photo)
Kidambi Srikanth uses smart strategy to beat Popov, enters Malaysian Masters semis
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.
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