By the time Kidambi Srikanth walked off the court in Fullerton after the US Open final, the scoreboard showed defeat. The medal around his neck was silver. Yet, for Indian badminton, and particularly for Hyderabad’s sporting community that has long embraced him as one of its own, the tournament felt like something far more significant.
At 33, Srikanth reached his first final of the 2026 season and reminded the badminton world that he still belongs among the sport’s elite.
The former world No.1 eventually lost the US Open Super 300 final to Chinese Taipei’s Su Li Yang 15-21, 21-16, 9-21 after a gruelling contest that lasted just over an hour. The younger and faster Su eventually prevailed, but the week belonged as much to Srikanth’s resilience as it did to the champion’s victory.
For several years, Indian badminton has largely revolved around younger names. Questions about Srikanth’s future surfaced repeatedly as injuries, inconsistency and changing dynamics within Indian badminton affected his results. Yet the US Open became a reminder that experience, skill and competitive instinct do not disappear easily.
His run to the final included one of the tournament’s most memorable moments.
During the semifinal against Japan’s Yudai Okimoto, Srikanth was awarded a crucial point in the deciding game. Despite officials refusing to overturn the decision, he voluntarily conceded the point to his opponent after admitting the shuttle had landed out. In a sport where every point can determine careers and rankings, Srikanth chose fairness over advantage. The gesture earned widespread praise and became one of the defining moments of the tournament.
He eventually defeated Okimoto 22-20, 15-21, 21-19 to enter the final.
The summit clash against Su Li Yang tested every aspect of Srikanth’s game. He recovered strongly after losing the opening game, winning the second 21-16 through clever net play and aggressive attacks. But the physical demands of the week appeared to catch up with him in the deciding game as the younger Taiwanese player increased the pace and ran away with the contest.
Yet the story of the US Open cannot be reduced to a defeat.
For Hyderabad’s badminton followers, Srikanth remains deeply connected to the city’s sporting identity. Though born in Andhra Pradesh, his career was shaped in Hyderabad’s badminton ecosystem, where generations of Indian players trained, competed and dreamed of international success. Alongside contemporaries such as Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy and Parupalli Kashyap, Srikanth became part of the golden generation that transformed Indian badminton.
His achievements remain historic. He became the first Indian male shuttler to reach the world No.1 ranking and won four Super Series titles in 2017. He later added a World Championship silver medal in 2021 and played a vital role in India’s Thomas Cup triumph.
The US Open silver may not carry the same weight as those milestones, but it arrives at an important stage of his career. In an era increasingly dominated by younger players, Srikanth has demonstrated that he remains competitive at the international level.
Sometimes, sporting stories are not about trophies alone.
They are about persistence after setbacks, belief after disappointment and dignity in both victory and defeat.
At the US Open 2026, Kidambi Srikanth gave Indian badminton all three.
And perhaps that is why the silver medal feels much brighter than its colour suggests.
