BWF World Championships: Tough fixtures for Kidambi Srikanth

BWF World Championships: Tough road ahead for Kidambi Srikanth, B Sai Praneeth has it easier, check details

Sunday, Dec 12, 2021 11:01 pm

BWF World Championships: Both Kidambi Srikanth and B Sai Praneeth will be seen in action on Day 1 of the BWF World Championships. However, both have got contrasting draws with Kidambi Srikanth getting the raw end of the deal. Follow BWF World Championships Live on InsideSport.IN BWF World Championships: Tough road ahead for Kidambi Srikanth, […]

BWF World Championships: Both Kidambi Srikanth and B Sai Praneeth will be seen in action on Day 1 of the BWF World Championships. However, both have got contrasting draws with Kidambi Srikanth getting the raw end of the deal. Follow BWF World Championships Live on InsideSport.IN

BWF World Championships: Tough road ahead for Kidambi Srikanth, B Sai Praneeth has it easier, check details

Up first for the former World No 1 will be Spain’s Pablo Abian, who is ranked No 53 in the world. It will not a be a walk in the park as most people think. A lot will depend on how fit Srikanth is at the moment.

Also read: BWF World Championships LIVE: Kidambi Srikanth, Sai Praneeth to kick start India’s campaign today- Follow LIVE Updates

“Srikanth has been better off-late. Whether he is injury-free at the moment will go a long way in determining how far Srikanth can go. Pablo Abian is a defensive player and if Srikanth is playing well, he can win this one but it will not be easy,”former national coach Vimal Kumar told InsideSport.

If the Round 1 hurdle can be crossed, young Chinese shuttler Li Shi Feng might be a possible Round 2 opponent.

BWF World Championships: Tough road ahead for Kidambi Srikanth, B Sai Praneeth has it easier, check details

“Li Shi Feng is a good player like most of the Chinese shuttlers and it will be another good fight but Srikanth should get the better of him,”Vimal Kumar felt.

Then things will get way more difficult with either World No 4 Chou Tien Chen or rising Thai star Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who reached the final at the World Tour Finals, lying in wait in Round 3.

“That will be a huge challenge. Chou Tien is a class act and even if it is Kunlavut, things will not be easy as Srikanth has already lost badly to Kunlavut in the World Tour Finals. Unfortunately, the draw has not favoured Srikanth and it will be very tough to progress further.”

Former BWF World CHampionships bronze medallist B Sai Praneeth has a comparatively easier draw till the quarterfinals. Dutch shuttler Mark Caljouw is up first and Sai Praneeth will have revenge on his mind after he lost 14-21, 14-21 despite being the higher seed in the Tokyo Olympics group stage.

BWF World Championships: Tough road ahead for Kidambi Srikanth, B Sai Praneeth has it easier, check details

“This will be their second meeting and Sai Praneeth should be favourite considering the fact that Mark has not played too much since the Olympics. If Sai Praneeth is at the top of his game, he can at least make the quarterfinals,” Vimal Kumar commented.

A Mexican or Finnish player is going to stand in his way in Round 2 and with the withdrawal of World No 5 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, Bryan Yang looks likely to be his Round 3 opponent. If he reaches the quarterfinals, things will get tougher as he is in the same quarter as Kidambi Srikanth as the likes of Chou Tien Chen or Kunlavut Vitidsarn might be lying in wait.

In further good news for Lakshya Sen, his first round opponent Max Weisskirchen of Germany has pulled out. Which means Lakshya Sen will now begin straight from Round 2.

BWF World Championships: Tough road ahead for Kidambi Srikanth, B Sai Praneeth has it easier, check details

Badminton