| Srikanth Kidambi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Kidambi at the2013 French Super Series | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | Srikanth Nammalwar Kidambi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1993-02-07)7 February 1993 (age 32) Ravulapalem,Andhra Pradesh, India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 73 kg (161 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handedness | Right | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coach | Pullela Gopichand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Men's singles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career record | 325 wins, 196 losses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest ranking | 1 (12 April 2018) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current ranking | 47 (11 March 2025) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| BWF profile | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Srikanth Kidambi (born 7 February 1993) is an Indianbadminton player. A former world no. 1, Kidambi was awarded thePadma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, in 2018.[1] and theArjuna award in 2015. In 2021, he became the first Indian to reach the World Championship final in themen's singles discipline.[2]
SrikanthNammalwar Kidambi was born inRavulapalem,Andhra Pradesh on 7 February 1993 to aTelugu family. His father, KVS Krishna, is a landlord, and his mother Radha is a house-wife.[3] His older brotherK. Nandagopal is also a badminton player and junior national champion with his brother. They used to live in the same house until 2008 and then Srikanth moved to the Gopichand Academy for continuing his practice.[4]
In the2011 Commonwealth Youth Games in theIsle of Man, Kidambi won the bronze medal in men's doubles and silver in mixed doubles.[5] He also emerged as the winner in the singles and doubles category at the All India Junior International Badminton Championship held inPune.[6]
In 2012, Kidambi overcame the then Junior World ChampionZulfadli Zulkiffli of Malaysia in the Maldives International Challenge to claim the men's singles title.[7]
In theThailand Open Grand Prix Gold event, Kidambi won the men's singles title, beating then world number eight and local favoriteBoonsak Ponsana in straight games.[8] In the same year, Kidambi beat reigning champion and OlympianParupalli Kashyap in the All India Senior National Championships inDelhi to claim his first senior national title.[9] He was also part of theAwadhe Warriors team that finished second in theIndian Badminton League, 2013.[10]
Kidambi finished runner up at the 2014India Open Grand Prix Gold event inLucknow[11] and was a quarterfinalist in the 2014Malaysian Open.[12] He was part of the Indian badminton contingent that reached the semi-finals of themixed team event at theCommonwealth Games 2014 inGlasgow.[13] He also reached the quarter-finals of themen's singles event in the same tournament.[14] In November, he created a major upset in the final of the2014 China Open Super Series Premier by beating 5-time World Champion and 2-time Olympic ChampionLin Dan in straight games (21–19, 21–17), thus becoming the first Indian to win a Super Series Premier men's title.[15] He then reached the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Open Super Series after beating Taiwan'sChou Tien-chen in an early round. He lost toChen Long of China in three games in the semi-finals. With those wins, he was qualified for the World Superseries Finals. He defeatedKento Momota (15–21, 21–16, 21–10) andTommy Sugiarto (21–18, 21–13) in the group stage to reach the semi-final of the prestigiousBWF Super Series Masters Finals, where he lost again toChen Long of China.[16]
Kidambi became the first Indian man to win gold at the2015 Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold by defeatingViktor Axelsen 21–15, 12–21, 21–14. During the same year, he also won theIndia Open Super Series title by defeatingViktor Axelsen in the final.[17]
Kidambi reached the semifinal in theMalaysia Masters, where he lost toIskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin of Malaysia in January. The following week, he won theSyed Modi International Badminton Championships Grand Prix Gold title, defeatingHuang Yuxiang 21–13, 14–21, 21–14 in the final. At the2016 South Asian Games, he won two gold medals, in men's team and men's singles, defeatingPrannoy Kumar in the singles final. At the2016 Badminton Asia Team Championship, although his team lost in the semifinal, he remained undefeated.
In the2016 Rio Olympics, the World No. 11 Kidambi entered the Round of 16 of themen's singles by beatingLino Muñoz andHenri Hurskainen. He went on to beat World No. 5Jan Ø. Jørgensen 21–19, 21–19 to reach the quarterfinals,[18] but was defeated byLin Dan by a score of 6–21, 21–11, and 18–21.
Kidambi and Sai Praneeth created history when they became the first ever Indian pair to enter the finals of a ranking event in Badminton. Both hailing from Hyderabad and being coached by Pullela Gopichand, it was Sai Praneeth who prevailed 17–21, 21–17, 21–12 eventually to clinch theSingapore Super Series title.[19]
Kidambi won theIndonesia Super Series beating Japan'sKazumasa Sakai 21–11, 21–19, thereby becoming the first ever Indian male player to do so. He went on to win theAustralian Super Series beating China'sChen Long 22–20, 21–16 in the final, setting an Indian record for entering three consecutive Super Series Finals.[20] At theWorld Championships, he was defeated in the quarter-final by South Korea'sSon Wan-Ho in straight games. At the next Super Series, theDenmark, he won the title defeatingLee Hyun-il of Korea 21–10, 21–5 in the final. Following his good run, Kidambi became the fourth player ever to win four Super Series titles in a year, after he won theFrench Super Series that followed, defeating Japan's Kenta Nishimoto 21–14, 21–13 in the final. In the process, he equalled the record held byLee Chong Wei,Lin Dan, andChen Long. Following the victory, he reached his career-best worldranking of 2.[21]
Kidambi started 2018 at theIndia Open as the second seed. He was defeated in the second round byIskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin who had qualified from the qualifiers.[22] He also lost in the second round at theAll England Open to Chinese playerHuang Yuxiang in three games.[23] At theCommonwealth Games inGold Coast, Kidambi was more successful, winning a gold in the mixed team event, and a silver in the singles event.[24] He achieved the world number 1 ranking for a week during this period.[25] Kidambi lost toLiew Daren 18–21, 18–21 at theworld championships pre-quarters. Kidambi had a disappointing2018 Asian Games where insingles he lost in 1st round toWong Wing Ki 21–23, 19–21 and in the team event after defeatingMaldives 3–0 in the 1st round his team suffered a loss toIndonesia in quarterfinals.
Kidambi represented his country at theSouth Asian Games in Nepal, and won the gold medal in the team event.[26]
In2021, Kidambi reached the finals ofWorld championships becoming the first Indian male badminton player to do so. He lost the final toLoh Kean Yew to win the silver medal.
Kidambi was part of the Indian men's team forThomas Cup 2022. The team went on to win the Thomas Cup by beating Indonesia 3–0 in the final, with Kidambi winning his match againstJonatan Christie.[27]
Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Palacio de los Deportes Carolina Marín,Huelva, Spain |  Loh Kean Yew | 15–21, 20–22 |  Silver |
Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre,Gold Coast, Australia |  Lee Chong Wei | 21–19, 14–21, 14–21 | Silver |
| 2022 | National Exhibition Centre,Birmingham, England | Jason Teh | 21–15, 21–18 |  Bronze |
Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Multipurpose Hall SAI–SAG Centre,Shillong, India |  Prannoy Kumar | 11–21, 21–14, 21–6 |  Gold |
Boys' doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | National Sports Centre,Douglas, Isle of Man | Hema Thandarang |  Nathan ChoiNyl Yakura | 21–14, 15–21, 21–12 | Bronze |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | National Sports Centre,Douglas, Isle of Man | K. Maneesha | Teo Ee YiChow Mei Kuan | 21–18, 16–21, 8–21 | Silver |
The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[28] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by theBadminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tours are divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100.[29]
Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | India Open | Super 500 |  Viktor Axelsen | 7–21, 20–22 |  Runner-up |
The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007,[30] is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by theBadminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels areSuperseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consists of twelve tournaments around the world that have been introduced since 2011.[31] Successful players are invited to the Superseries Finals, which are held at the end of each year.
Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | China Open |  Lin Dan | 21–19, 21–17 |  Winner |
| 2015 | India Open | Viktor Axelsen | 18–21, 21–13, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2017 | Singapore Open | B. Sai Praneeth | 21–17, 17–21, 12–21 | Runner–up |
| 2017 | Indonesia Open |  Kazumasa Sakai | 21–11, 21–19 | Winner |
| 2017 | Australian Open | Chen Long | 22–20, 21–16 | Winner |
| 2017 | Denmark Open |  Lee Hyun-il | 21–10, 21–5 | Winner |
| 2017 | French Open | Kenta Nishimoto | 21–14, 21–13 | Winner |
The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, theBWF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by theBadminton World Federation (BWF) which was held from 2007 to 2017.
Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Thailand Open |  Boonsak Ponsana | 21–16, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2014 | India Grand Prix Gold | Xue Song | 21–16, 19–21, 13–21 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | Syed Modi International | Parupalli Kashyap | 21–23, 21–23 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | Swiss Open | Viktor Axelsen | 21–15, 12–21, 21–14 | Winner |
| 2015 | Indonesian Masters |  Tommy Sugiarto | 21–17, 13–21, 22–24 | Runner-up |
| 2016 | Syed Modi International | Huang Yuxiang | 21–13, 14–21, 21–14 | Winner |
Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Maldives International | Zulfadli Zulkiffli | 13–21, 21–11, 21–16 | Winner |
Record against Year-end Finals finalists, World Championships semi-finalists, and Olympic quarter-finalists. Accurate as of6 November 2022.[32]
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