(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Indian star Kidambi Srikanth set to play Sugiarto and Jorgensen in Dubai event.Kidambi Srikanth faltered in the first set but made a strong comeback against Kento Momoto on Wednesday. – KT photos by Shihab
Dubai — Hyderabad-based youngster Kidambi Srikanth is planning on a new ‘Plan of Action’ (PoA) when he encounters his two opponents next in the qualifiers in Group B of the $1 million MetLife BWF Destination Dubai World Superseries Finals which ends on December 21.
He had to fight back after a slow or rather sluggish start against Japan’s top rated player in the tournament Kento Momota in a late night fixture on Wednesday before showing the form that carried him to his stunning title win at the China Open nearly a month ago. Srikanth won 15-21 21-16 21-10 against Kento who began to tire in the late stages.
Srikanth was apprehensive when he confronted stylish southpaw Momota’s strategy to keep the shuttle as flat as possible and not engage the Indian in long rallies in set one.
“I have to go into a different mode and change my strategy after discussing with Gopi sir (Pullela Gopichand) tonight (Wednesday).
“The first set against Kento was awful but credit has to be given to him as well for the way he was able to restrict my usual flow movements and smashes” Srikanth who shocked his idol Lin Dan in the China Open told media. “I didn’t start the first game well and my strategy wasn’t right until the later parts of the second set. I had to play more aggressively and faster to beat him.
“Tommy (Sugiarto) and Jan (O Jorgensen) are next and I won’t have the luxury to make comebacks like I did tonight (Wednesday) against Kento. They are more accomplished on the circuit and have big match temperament and the experience to capitalise on the small chances and openings they get.
“With experience I guess things will fall in line for my general strategy building and game planning methods. I have to go back to the room now think over what happened in the first set and of how I was able to inch my way back into the game.”
“I have played the experienced Tommy and Jorgensen before but the inputs from those matches are not going to matter much as Dubai is a totally new environment from the ones we are used to on the regular world stage. Remember this is the ultimate or rather the climax of the sport and the added pressure will be a key factor” added the Guntur Andhra Pradesh-born Srikanth who became the first Indian to win a Superseries Premier crown when he won in China recently. Against Jorgensen he has a 1-1 record while Sugiarto beat the soft spoken Indian once in the only meeting between the duo.
What Srikanth did in front of the spectators who cheered him all the way after Saina Nehwal’s win earlier in the night was to move a lot quicker when approaching the net. “The change in strategy and the handy half smash helped a lot and I got a lot of half court returns from Kento who was a bit surprised by my increase in speed and the quicker interceptions at the net” Srikanth said.
monikhaleejtimes.com
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