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Kidambi Srikanth Outclasses Olympic Champion Chen Long To Clinch Australian Open Super Series Title

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Kidambi Srikanth won the Australian Open to clinch his 2nd consecutive Super Series title.© AFP



Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth continued his brilliant form as he beat reigning Olympic champion Chen Long in straight games 22-20, 21-16 in the men's singles final to clinch the Australian Open Super Series title on Sunday. This is Srikanth's second consecutive Super Series title after he won the Indonesia Open Super Series crown. The Indian badminton star produced one of the best displays of his career to completely outwit and outplay the World No.6.

Srikanth and Chen Long were neck-and-neck in the early exchanges but the Indian quickly hit his stride to go into the break 11-9 up. The Chinese shuttler made a mini comeback to take a 12-11 lead but Srikanth refused to give in.

The two players battled it out for supremacy and there was nothing separating the two at 20-20. Srikanth held his nerves to win two consecutive points to take the first game 22-20.

There was no looking back for the Indian after that. He started the second game like a bullet train and raced to a 6-2 lead. Chen Long once again fought back and won five points in a row to lead 7-6. But this time Srikanth was having none of it and upped the ante.

With the scores tied at 9-9, the No.11 ranked Indian started dominating the gameplay. He moved Chen Long around the court as he if he was playing an amateur. The Olympic champ had no answer to Srikanth's powerful overhead smashes and looked completely at sea as the Indian marched towards the title.

Srikanth soon opened a 16-13 lead and was out of sight as the scores reached 19-14. The Chinese player did manage to delay the inevitable by winning back-to-back points but Srikanth too did the same with the scores reading 19-16 to secure the game and the match.
 
This is his second title in this month after winning Indonesian open title.
 
Chinese domination in women domination ended with the finals in Rio Olympics featuring a Spanish and Indian player.
Now it seems that even their men players have lost their sheen.
Is the prestige associated with sports reducing in China or new gen is not interested in the struggles required to be a top athlete ?
 
Chinese domination in women domination ended with the finals in Rio Olympics featuring a Spanish and Indian player.
Now it seems that even their men players have lost their sheen.
Is the prestige associated with sports reducing in China or new gen is not interested in the struggles required to be a top athlete ?
Even now it is not celebrated like a series win against any nation in cricket.
I do not why Indians and Asians are so much emotional about cricket which is not their even in olympics
Shame on media specially Indian media as they even do not have any clip of the finals.
Anyways So happy for Srikanth on his victory.
Chinese domination is ending slowly in badminton.
 
Sheer talent.....otherwise it is not easy to beat the Chinese, they train like hell.....
 
Congrats to Kidambi, he was good at start of his career but struggled later and now looks like he is back in form, winning two back to back titles. Chen Long is too old now and tires quickly. It will be hard for China to find players like Chen Long and Lin Dan.
 
Saw the match. Chen long was outclassed. He became increasingly frustrated as the match slipped away.
 

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