Srikanth is the richest shuttler of 2017
Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth is the richest badminton player of 2017 in terms of prize money earnings. Till now he has won prize money worth $147,847 and he is way ahead of the second richest player Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, who has total earnings of $71,300. Rio Olympics silver medalist PV Sindhu is 7th richest female badminton player with total earnings of $47,075.
Srikanth makes to top 10 after winning Australian Open title
Kidambi Srikanth moved up three places to enter the top 10 of BWF men's singles rankings. He is placed on the eighth spot. Srikanth made history as he defeated 2016 Olympic champion Chen Long in the finals of 2017 Australian Open Super Series finals. He became the first Indian male shuttler to win the tournament. It was his second Super Series title in June'17.
Who is Kidambi Srikanth?
Kidambi Srikanth is an Indian badminton player, and a student of former badminton player and Dronacharya Awardee Pullela Gopichand. Srikanth made his international debut in 2008 and won two medals in the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games. He won the 2013 Indonesia Open Grand Prix Gold tournament, and also became India's senior national champion by defeating Parupalli Kashyap.
Rise to fame
Srikanth grabbed everyone's attention in the year 2014, when he defeated five time-world champion Lin Dan in the finals of the 2014 China Open Super Series Premier. He became the first Indian male player to win a Super Series Premier title.
Victories and career best ranking
In 2015, Srikanth defeated Denmark's Viktor Axelsen in two finals, at Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold and India Super Series to reach his career high ranking of three. In the following year, he won Syed Modi International Badminton Championships, Grand Prix Gold title and two gold medals in men's singles and team events in the South Asian Games in Guwahati.
Aggression, cool temperament and ability to shock the biggies
Over the years, Srikanth has established himself as an aggressive player with a calm temperament. He has managed to upset top ranked players in the past, thus making his style of play unpredictable for the opponent. Not focusing on the rankings, Srikanth has been a consistent top male badminton player for the country in the last couple of years.
Olympic loss and 2017
In the 2016 Rio Olympics, Srikanth lost in the quarterfinals, but bounced back and to reach the finals of the Singapore Super Series. He lost to B Sai Praneeth in the finals, but went on to win the Indonesian Open Super Series.
