Srikanth upbeat on Indian badminton despite Hong Kong loss

HONG KONG: Kidambi Srikanth has suffered his third straight quarter-finals loss but says Indian badminton has a bright future, after injury woes sent the fourth seed packing from the Hong Kong Open.

India's top ranked men's player was the first Indian to reach number one in the world badminton rankings in April but has slumped since his loss to Malaysian great Lee Chong Wei in this year's Commonwealth Games final.

Srikanth's success on the international circuit despite recurring injuries and a struggle to maintain fitness has nonetheless inspired a surge of interest in the sport in India, as has high-profile women's world number four P.V. Sindhu.

"We've been doing well here and there. But I really want to make it a consistent performance," he told AFP after his Friday loss to Kenta Nishimoto.

"I'm improving in that particular area, being consistent around the tournaments we play. I think we will all definitely have better results in the coming years."

Srikanth struggled to get low against Nishimoto and blamed defensive mistakes for his 21-17, 21-13 loss to the Japanese eighth seed.

He plans to use the days ahead of next week's Syed Modi International back home to work on his return to form.

"Before that I really want to look at myself," he said. - AFP