BNI Indonesia Masters I 2023: India's Kiran George Wins Men's Singles Super 100 Title

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Medan (Indonesia), September 10: India's Kiran George clinched the Indonesia Masters Super 100 title following straight games win over Japan's Koo Takahashi in the men's singles final men's singles title at the GOR PBSI Pancing in Medan, Indonesia on Sunday (September 10).

The Odisha Open 22 winner, who is ranked No. 50, defeated world number 82 Takahashi by a scoreline of 21-19, 22-20 in 56 minutes. This is Kiran's first title in 2023, having reached the quarter finals of the Thailand Open 2023 (Super 500) earlier this year.

The 23-year-old Indian shuttler had secured an upset win over Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia in the semi-finals by a scoreline of 23-21, 16-21, 21-8. In the quarter-finals, Kiran eased past Thailand's Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul by a scoreline of 21-9, 21-19.

In the final, both Kiran and Takahashi were locked in a tight battle that included many rallies. In the first game, Kiran, who is quick on the feet, mostly played dribble on the net and a criss-crossing game to take the lead.

In the second game, Takahashi took the initial lead of 2-0, but the Indian was quick to turn the table as he played a crosscourt smash and took the lead of 4-2 before taking the lead to 11-9 at the interval.

The Japanese fought back to level the game at 20-20. In the end, Kiran held his nerve and used two cross-court smashes to wrap up the game, which also sealed the match and the Super 100 Title.

Earlier this year, Kiran, who trains at Prakash Padukone Academy in Bengaluru, had defeated Chinese star Shi Yuqi and Weng Hong Yang at the Thailand Open. And following his victory at the Indonesia Masters S100 event, Kiran's coach at the PPBA said, it is an excellent win.

"It is an excellent win, it is about converting these chances and consistently playing well. Other players are young and equally good, so I'm quite pleased with him," Vimal Kumar, the director of Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA) and former chief national coach, told PTI.

"Now it is about not to relax but continue his preparation as he is travelling to Hong Kong. He has nothing to lose, so he should look to create upsets."

(With inputs from Agencies)