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Semi-final report: Kidambi Srikanth created history on Saturday by becoming the first Indian shuttler to enter the final in the men’s singles category of the BWF World Championships in Huelva. In an all-Indian battle, former world number one Srikanth rallied to defeat Lakshya Sen by 17-21, 21-14, 21-17 in a thriller that lasted for one hour and nine minutes. Sri will now clash in the gold medal match against Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew, who defeated Denmark’s Anders Antonsen 23-21, 21-14 in the final game of Day 7 on Saturday. The 20-year-old Indian who was chasing the game at the start entered the first game interval with an 11-8 lead. But Kidambi soon showed his experience and leveled the game at 17-17 after the resumption. However, Sen didn’t lose his composure and forced the 12th-seeded Indian to do errors under pressure with some deft touches. He took four straight points to wrap up the first game. Simmering backhands and brilliant net play were on display at the start of the second game as world No 19 raced to an 8-4 lead. But his senior compatriot fought back strongly and took the two-point lead at the mid-game break. With momentum on his side, the 28-year-old Indian widened the gap with a 16-12 lead. Sen tried to claw back in the game but Srikanth held his nerves to force the decider. The third game went back and forth as both shuttlers found themselves level at 7-7. But it was the unseeded Indian who took the three points advantage in the mid-game interval of the deciding game. After the change of ends, Srikanth clawed his way back into the game by leveling the score at 13-13 and soon took the lead at 19-16. The former World number one then held his nerves to seal the spot in the summit clash. On Friday, for a place in the last-4, Lakshya Sen defeated Zhao Jun Peng in a thriller. Battling at court 2, the Indian went past the Chinese shuttler by 21-15, 15-21, 22-20 in a titanic one hour and seven minutes clash. On the other hand, Kidambi Srikanth defeated Mark Caljouw to cruise into the semi-finals of the Championships. Former world number one Indian thrashed the Dutch shuttler by 21-8, 21-7 in a contest that lasted for just 26 minutes. With inputs from ANI
BWF World Championship 2021 Highlights: Loh Kean Yew crowned world champion, Kidambi Srikanth wins silver
Follow the latest update on the BWF World Championships men’s singles final between India’s Kidambi Srikanth and Singaporean shuttler Loh Kean Yew on our live blog
 "BWF World Championship 2021 Highlights: Loh Kean Yew crowned world champion, Kidambi Srikanth wins silver")
That brings us to the end of our coverage of the 2021 BWF World Championships. For the second time in a row, India have secured more than one medal in the competition with Kidambi Srikanth and Lakshya Sen winning silver and bronze respectively. With this year’s edition in Huelva, Spain coming to an end, Tokyo gears up to host the annual showpiece event next year.
Thank you to all those who tuned in to our live blog. This is Amit Banerjee signing off, bidding you all good night!
Here’s a roundup of results on the final day of the championships:
What a day for the sport!
What a match! Also great to see 50k people watching badminton on Hotstar! Could have gone higher if this had gone into a deciding game. Only seen these levels for a few top Premier League matches in India. #BWFWorldChampionships2021
— Jaideep Vaidya (@jaideepjourno) December 19, 2021
From one world championships medallist to another
Congratulations to @srikidambi for winning silver medal 🥈@lakshya_sen for winning bronze medal 🥉.. #WorldChampionships2021 pic.twitter.com/TkpstwP0tA
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) December 19, 2021
The medal ceremony
Loh, who stood out for his agile tiger-like leaps across the court and lightning-quick reflexes that proved too quick for Srikanth, gets teary-eyed on the podium as the Singaporean national flag is hoisted above the others and the national anthem is played out at the venue.
Proud moment for Indian badminton too with two try-colour flags going up along with a Singaporean and a Danish flag during the medal ceremony, with Srikanth and Lakshya Sen taking India’s medal tally at the BWF World Championships to 12, four of those coming in men’s singles.
Not a bad year for Indian sport at all!
Regardless of the defeat, somewhat fitting that #Srikanth caps off a year full of incredible, unforeseen highs across sports for India. Not a bad #2021 for Indian sport.
— Mihir Vasavda (@mihirsv) December 19, 2021
A historic feat for Srikanth anf for Indian badminton nevertheless
not to be, but hopefully Srikanth can kick off from here and head back towards the top of the rankings. first indian male player to win a world championship silver
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) December 19, 2021
Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 20—22 Loh Kean Yew
LOH KEAN YEW IS THE WORLD CHAMPION! Seals the deal in straight games as Kidambi Srikanth wins silver, the first Indian to do so in the men’s singles category! Srikanth fights hard till the very end, going level with Loh at 20-all, but the Singaporean keeps his calm and seals the deal in style in the end.
Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 20—20 Loh Kean Yew
Loh has two championship points, and from there Srikanth manages to go level! What a contest this is turning out to be!
Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 18—16 Loh Kean Yew
Srikanth has been really impressive with his net and cross-court play, and has managed to keep himself marginally ahead of the more agile Singaporean.
Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 16—14 Loh Kean Yew
Srikanth closes out a 49-shot rally with a terrific cross-court lift to Low’s left, and the latter isn’t able to get to the shuttle despite a dive. Two-point cushion for the Indian in the closing stages of the second game.
Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 15—14 Loh Kean Yew
Srikanth has kept India’s hopes alive, collecting three points on the trot to go ahead of the high-flying Low
Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 9—11 Loh Kean Yew
Advantage Loh at the halfway stage in Game 2 after reeling off five straight points! The Singaporean will hope to close this out in clinical fashion.
Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 7—5 Loh Kean Yew
For a second game running, Srikanth seizes the early lead. He has now allowed the pressure of conceding the lead affect his game. Remember, it’s a must-win situation for the Indian now as far as his dream of winning India’s maiden gold in the category is concerned.
Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 2—2 Loh Kean Yew
Change of court for the two finalists, and they’re level on points four serves into the second game.
How quick has Loh been so far!
Loh Kean Yew or Flash?
— Digvijay Singh Deo (@DiggySinghDeo) December 19, 2021
Game 1: Kidambi Srikanth 15—21 Loh Kean Yew
Loh takes Game 1, and has one foot on top of the men’s singles podium! Has been a rapid-fire contest so far, with the first game taking 16 minutes. Srikanth had similarly lost the first game to Lakshya, before mounting a comeback and winning the next two. Can he pull off something similar tonight?
Game 1: Kidambi Srikanth 13—17 Loh Kean Yew
This is Loh’s game to lose from here. Has been a superb comeback from the Singaporean after conceding a massive lead early on.
Game 1: Kidambi Srikanth 12—13 Loh Kean Yew
Impressive fightback from Loh, who collects five of the next six points on offer to surge ahead of the Indian. This could be a close affair, the first game
Game 1: Kidambi Srikanth 11—7 Loh Kean Yew
Has been a some contest so far. Srikanth had conceded a 1-3 lead early on, before collecting eight straight points. Yew then fights back winning the next four points to keep the Indian on his toes. Srikanth ends the first half of Game 1 ahead by four points and has the advantage in his favour.
Game 1: Kidambi Srikanth 4—3 Loh Kean Yew
A couple of booming smashes from Srikanth’s racquet down the court, and the Indian bounces back to lead by a point!
Game 1: Kidambi Srikanth 1—2 Loh Kean Yew
And just like that the Singaporean grabs the early advantage with some quick reflexes around the net.
The Indian national association sends its wishes to Srikanth for the biggest game of his career so far
BATTLE FOR THE CROWN 👑🔥
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) December 19, 2021
A historic & important day for Indian badminton as @srikidambi- first ever 🇮🇳 MS #WorldChampionships finalist will take court for the clash to become the world champion 👊
All the best Srikanth, go for gold 💪🥇#BWFWorldChampionships2021#Badminton pic.twitter.com/eK5nA3JStW
Head to head:
Kidambi Srikanth has a 1-0 lead over Loh Kean Yew, having beaten the Singaporean in straight games in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast in the only meeting between the two
Srikanth vs Yew to begin any minute now!
With Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi becoming the first Japanese duo to win the men’s doubles event at the BWF World Championships, we are left with just match in this year’s edition of the showpiece event. The medal ceremony just got over, and the two finalists will be walking out to the court anytime now.
Loh Kean Yew’s road to the final
— beat Viktor Axelsen 14-21, 21-9, 21-6
— beat Luka Wraber 21-4, 21-8
— beat Kantaphon Wangcharden 21-4, 21-7
— beat HS Prannoy (quarter-final) 21-14, 21-12
— beat Anders Antonsen (semi-final) 23-21, 21-14
Kidambi Srikanth’s road to the final
— beat Pablo Abian 21-12, 21-16
— beat Li Shi Feng 15-21, 21-18, 21-17
— beat Lu Guang Zu 21-10, 21-15
— beat Mark Callow (quarter-final) 21-8, 21-7
— beat Lakshya Sen (semi-final) 17-21, 21-14, 21-17
“I, at least, got a bronze, but I am not happy,” said Lakshya Sen after losing the men’s semi-final clash against Kidambi Srikanth, setting his sights on getting to the final in future editions of the tournament. Sen, regarded by many as a future Indian badminton star, lost to the more experienced compatriot despite clinching the first game of what turned out to be a edge-of-the-seat contest on Saturday.
**Click here for the full story**Earlier on Saturday, Kidambi Srikanth and Lakshya Sen produced an all-Indian semi-final to remember as Srikanth bounced back after conceding Game 1 to pip the youngster in a thrilling encounter, with the pair sharing a hug at the net at the end of the game. Lakshya ended up with a bronze in his maiden World Championships appearance, with Srikanth becoming the first Indian to qualify for the men’s singles final at the tournament.
**Click here for the semi-final match report**
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