Odense: Kidambi Srikanth clinched his third Super Series this year as he defeated Korea’s Lee Hyun Il 21-10, 21-5 in a one-sided final on Sunday in Odense to win the Denmark Open.
After the Indonesia Super Series Premier and Australia Open Super Series, Srikanth’s victory in the Denmark Open has made him the second Indian after ace shuttler Saina Nehwal to win three such titles in one year. He also became the sixth player to reach four men’s singles Super Series finals.
“Very happy to win another title. It’s a good game I think he must have been tired after yesterday’s long match. I am really happy with the way I have played today and I thank everyone for supporting me so much here. It has been a fantastic week for me. I am looking forward to coming back here and defend the title,” said a happy Srikanth after the match.
He also said that he didn’t expect the finals to be an easy one. “I expected the match to be a much better one. I know he has the experience of coming back after losing the first game. That’s why after winning the first game I still wanted to maintain the tempo in the second game. I played well, my attacking was going perfectly, I am really happy with the way that it went on,” added the 24-year-old.
Coach Pullela Gopichand felt that Srikanth didn’t get complacent in the match which helped him maintain his focus on winning points and in an interaction with The Times of India after the final, he said, “It may have seemed easy, but Lee is a very tricky opponent and has a great reputation for coming back. It is to the credit of Srikanth that he used the weaknesses in his opponent and did not get complacent and kept his focus on winning points.”
He also added, “At end of game 1, I told him: He can come back, so put your head down and finish him. Take no prisoners.”
Lee had defeated world no. 2 Won Han Son to make it to the final but against Srikanth, the 37-year-old couldn’t put up a dominating performance as he was defeated in straight sets in a contest that lasted only for 25 minutes.
Srikanth raced to a four-point lead after five minutes into the first game at 9-5 and stuck to the task as he made life difficult for the Korean and he ended up with the victory in the first set.
The second game was even a better example of the dominance and control Srikanth had over the match as they headed into the break with the Indian enjoying a 10-point lead at 11-1. He then cruised to resounding victory soon after.
Ratchanok Itanon of Thailand got the better of Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 14-21, 21-15 and 21-19 to win the title in the women’s singles category.
Results-
Men’s singles: K Srikanth (Ind) bt Lee Hyun Il (Korea) 21-10, 21-5.
Women’s singles: Ratchanok Intanon (Tha) bt 4-Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn) 14-21, 21-15, 21-19.
Women’s doubles: Lee So Hee/Shin Seung Chan (Kor) bt 6-Shiho Tanaka/Koharu Yonemoto (Jpn) 21-13, 21-16.
Mixed doubles: 8-Tang Chun Man/Tse Ying Suet (Hkg) bt 1-Zheng Siwei/Chen Qingchen 24-22, 19-21, 23-21.