Kidambi Srikanth, at the age of 32 and in the world at the age of 65, “BWF” is back to the final. “I don’t know, I lost its track,” he said after a stellar, Malaysia Masters Super 500 Final Beating Yushi Tanaka to reach 21-18, 24-22 to perform a turn-back-back-time performance.

The world was a different place when he reached the final of a non-Team BWF event last time. It was the 2021 World Championship, an epidemic incident where the Olympics and the world were held in the same year. The top players all deteriorated and Loh Keen U will emerge a new champion, which defeated the Indian. To be even more specific, the final BWF final for Srikanth returned to the India Open of 2019 when he lost to Victor Axlesen.

Viewed from any lens, Srikanth reached the BWF final in 2025, a notable moment after fighting his way through merit. Why should there be a big thing for a former world number 1 player to reach the final of Super 500, who defeated Lynn Dan and Axlesen in the final in their day? Because this week in Malaysia, 32-year-old returned the clock with a vintage shot-making performance, now reinforced by a mentality that is back from the verge and new fitness. In other words, Srikanth has re -discovered his unique touch – and balanced mentally and physically. After falling in the world rankings in the 80s, it is worth celebrating even before the final, to overcome injuries and to overcome his own tendency for self-torrent errors.

In the semi -finals against Tanaka, Srikanth demonstrated both these old and new characteristics. In the first game, where the Japanese player led to the most part, the Indian’s banging wrist got the winners when it was required to receive it at 16–16. In the second, which nervous with a point separating the two from 17–17 to 22–22, Srikanth needed all his mental and match sharpness to stay in the next points after an unknown error. Something that he often struggled to do in decisive moments.

A big moment for End Kidambi Srikanth!

Listen to what he had to say after the victory.#Bwfworldtour #Malysiamasters2025 pic.twitter.com/w5rxecloqf

– BWF (@bwfmedia) May 24, 2025

The best example of this was a lifetime-halite-reel worth shot at 22-21-a misleading drop shot was so smoothly maneuvering from the back court that no opponent would have got a chance to return it. This was the proof of Srikanth’s racket skills and the ridiculous level of court crafts, one who created a real treatment to see him on world number 1 and song.

It was also impressive that at a time in the match when he would be normally curved, he fell to that next shot, next point and then match points… and fell to the ground and spread to relief and happiness.

“I am working hard last month, really difficult … this victory, after a very long injury, that’s why Bhavna,” he said later.

This straight-game win came a day after a brilliant fightback, which lasted for 74 minutes against Toma Popov, where he had to use all his smart and stamina to cross the finish line after a close, close judge. In fact, his age-old disease of errors at the moment of crunch was almost found to him … until he rebuilt himself after completing the three match points.

Kidambi Srikanth as semi -finals for tombs. Tommy competes on Junior Popov ��. #Bwfworldtour #Malysiamasters2025 pic.twitter.com/uxn8i1thzf

– BWF (@bwfmedia) May 23, 2025

This will, who trained him hard and became a fitter compared to the last few years, which excluded his slug in the qualifier after his ranking, and who he got his first final after years, perhaps more valuable for his 32 -year -old body as his talent.

Srikanth admitted that his capacity was reduced by not playing several matches. “The fact is that I have not played a lot of tournaments last year. Qualifying and playing all, so perhaps that touch of playing matches has been lost. And yes, everything worked this time.”

This week should intensify their skills and their ranking, which will give them a double boost. He has played six matches in five days, spent 310 minutes in court, played three decidners against all opponents, but one was ranked over him. To clean the seeds (with a little help from his friends, Satish Karunakaran defeated Chow Tien Cho and HS Pranoy, while Srikanth defeated Lu Guang Zu in the first round), Srikanth had a chance to do something special and he wipes it as if it was on a short-fed shut. A physical and mental test that has been passed with flying colors and footwork.

On Sunday, he will play China’s Lee Shi Feng for the trophy, a player whom he has defeated only once in 4 matches. This will be a final where Srikanth’s explosive shot-making will be important after a week, which has tested his endurance at the peak. It is also the final stage in a redemption chap that no one has seen … there is no journey from qualifier to final.

Srikanth has always been someone who has played to win – he will continue to attack, even if the ratio between the winners and errors is in red. To enter Green for that ratio, to click with your feet for your shots, there is a cinematic chance for a player, which does not sure how long he has left to the top of the game. “I have not really planned anything. It’s just about being physically fit, being hurt free, and then how many tournaments are possible. Obviously if I play, I will play to win. So, I really want to give enough time to recover myself, and then I play at this time,” he said after winning.

If he recovers and can finish this memorable week with a trophy, it may be well with Srikanth’s redemptive moment -the long, long, the first real highlight of Indian badminton may be the first real highlight.