Not Virat Kohli But Kidambi Srikanth Is The New Inspiration For Sports Aspirants In India
Srikanth won the 2017 Australian Open Super Series
Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly - there's one more addition to sporting idols in India. It's Kidambi Srikanth.
Three Super Series finals on the trot. Two Super Series victories back to back. This man is actually on his way to making badminton the national sport of India.
India has always been a country where cricket is religion. But watching Srikanth play at the Australian Open final evoked passion and triggered an emerging love for badminton.
Your hands will sweat if you face the reigning Olympic champion in a high-voltage final of the Australian Open. But Srikanth held his nerve and beat Chen Long. But what's important to know is that he beat Long in straight sets.
Long before entering the finals, Srikanth did something probably no other badminton player in the world has. Beating the World No. 1 player twice in two weeks. You heard that right - he beat Son Wan Ho twice to send ripples across the world.
Every sportsperson peaks at the right time. So did Srikanth. How and when did he do that?
Back in 2014, Srikanth fought through every hurdle in the China Open and faced his badminton idol Lin Dan in the summit showdown. He knew this was his time to peak and announce his arrival at the international level. He did so and in style.
As the Anil Kumble-Virat Kohli spat took astronomical proportios, Srikanth silently did his job at the Australian Open Super Series final. And far removed from the glitz and glamour of the sporting world, an inspiration and a star was born.
