Kidambi Srikanth’s spirited run came to an end in the 2025 Malaysian Masters, as the former World No. 1 lost the title clash to the current World No. 4, Li Shi Feng of China. The Chinese shuttler defeated the Indian in straight games – 21-11, 21-9 – to clinch the Masters Men’s Singles title.
Srikanth, who reached his first final of a BWF event in six years, fell just short of sealing the title. However, his campaign at the Malaysian Masters was nothing short of charismatic efforts filled with magical rallies and a display of sheer determination.
In the first game, Srikanth put on a fine show, evidenced by his smash clocked at 402 km/h. But he started to struggle after the interval as Shi Feng maintained the lead. Meanwhile, Srikanth committed several unforced errors and failed to close the gap.
The second game was completely dominated by Shi Feng, who displayed exceptional skills. On the other hand, Srikanth failed to deceive or return effectively and couldn’t get any momentum. He fell short in the second game as well, losing the final in straight games.
It was the fifth clash between Srikanth and Shi Feng, and with another strong performance the Chinese player extended his head-to-head lead to 4-1. Srikanth’s only win against Shi Feng came in their first encounter in 2021, after which the Chinese shuttler had dominated him.
The shuttler showcased immense skill and gameplay throughout the tournament. Earlier in the tournament, Srikanth defeated several top shuttlers. He began his campaign in the qualifiers, where he overcame a Taiwanese opponent to enter the main draw. From there on, he didn’t look back and went on to defeat some of the top-ranked players on his way to reaching the summit clash.
Although he fell short in the final today, his form, confidence and remarkable comeback have given some hope to Indian badminton fans. The veteran shuttler looks confident and in great shape, and with this performance in the Malaysian Open, he has shown that he is ready for the upcoming challenges.