Srikanth Strikes Back: Former World No. 1 Stuns Top Seed to Enter Canada Open Semis

Kidambi Srikanth is back in the spotlight—and how. The former World No. 1 delivered a commanding performance at the Canada Open 2025, defeating top seed and World No. 6 Chou Tien-Chen in straight games (21-18, 21-9) to storm into the semifinals. The 43-minute masterclass at the Markham Pan Am Centre marks Srikanth’s second BWF World Tour semifinal of the season, following his runner-up finish at the Malaysia Masters earlier this year.

 

Key Highlights:

 

- Dominant Display: Srikanth raced to a 5-0 lead in the first game and held his nerve as Chou briefly led 17-16. The Indian shuttler then reeled off five of the next six points to seal the opener.
 

- Second Game Surge: Tied at 4-4 early on, Srikanth pulled away to lead 11-6 at the interval and never looked back, closing the match with a 21-9 win.
 

- Comeback Trail: After a tough injury phase and a shaky start in the first round, Srikanth hasn’t dropped a game since, signaling a strong return to form.
 

- Next Challenge: He now faces Japan’s third seed Kenta Nishimoto in the semifinals. Srikanth leads their head-to-head 6-4 but lost their last encounter at the 2023 World Championships.
 

- Lone Indian Standing: With this win, Srikanth remains the only Indian left in contention at the $240,000 Super 300 tournament.

 

Srikanth’s resurgence is more than a comeback—it’s a statement.

 

Source: Sportstar, India TV News, MyKhel