Kidambi Srikanth Wins Million Hearts After Quarters Loss To Two-Time Olympic Champion Lin Dan
India's Kidambi Srikanth played one of the best games of his life to almost make a giant killing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games tonight. Facing up to two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan was a tough ask for the 21-year-old from Guntur but he gave his best, going down 6-21, 21-11, 18-21 in the quarters of the men's singles competition at Rio.
AFP
Just a day after PV Sindhu advanced to the semis after upsetting World No 2 Yihan Wang, Srikanth could've done the same against World No 3 Lin Dan. A win would've taken him one more step closer to assuring India a medal at the Games.
PTI
Srikanth staged a stunning comeback from losing first game 6-21, to take the second game 21-11 and that's when the whole of India anticipated a major upset. Leading the third game 11-8, Srikanth looked set to do that and win his second match over Lin Dan since his win in the China Open in 2014 but it was not be as the Chinese dug deep in his reserves to match up against the impressive Indian.
Reuters
Once the nerve-wrecking match got over with the third game ending 21-18 in Lin's favour, twitter went on overdrive to praise Srikanth's efforts, that went in vain.
Heartbroken. But very proud of you Kidambi Srikanth. Champion.
¡ª Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 17, 2016
Well done young https://t.co/Ivgz0JuZqs have a fan in me for life #SrikanthKidambi
¡ª Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) August 17, 2016
T 2351-@srikidambi .. what a game at #Rio2016 .. great pluck and determination .. you made the country proud !! to me you were the winner !
¡ª Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) August 17, 2016
Well done, @srikidambi! Played like a true champion! #Rio2016
¡ª Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) August 17, 2016
Gasping for words after witnessing a brave performance from young @srikidambi ! Lost the match, won hearts #Rio2016
¡ª Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) August 17, 2016
???????????????????????????????? @srikidambi simply super ????????
¡ª Gutta Jwala (@Guttajwala) August 17, 2016
Guts, courage, determination, never say die attitude. Thats @srikidambi. Nothing but respect and admiration for you #Rio2016 #IND
¡ª Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) August 17, 2016
@srikidambi you fought like a champion brother ???? ..really proud of you ?????? #Rio2016
¡ª sreejesh p r (@16Sreejesh) August 17, 2016
