Srikanth exits China Masters QF, loses to Lee Cheuk Yiu 16-21, 16-21
Synopsis
Kidambi Srikanth's return to a Super 750 quarterfinal — his first in three years — ended in a 16-21, 16-21 defeat to Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu in Shenzhen. The loss extends Srikanth's losing streak against Lee to four straight matches, with his only career win over the Hong Kong player dating back to 2018.
Key Takeaways
Kidambi Srikanth lost to Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong 16-21, 16-21 in the quarterfinals of the China Masters BWF Super 750 in Shenzhen on 4 September .
It was Srikanth's first Super 750 or above quarterfinal appearance in three years .
Srikanth has now lost four consecutive matches against Lee; his only win came at the 2018 India Open .
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty remained India's sole hope, set to face Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen in the quarterfinals.
Tanvi Sharma (women's singles) and the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also exited the tournament.
Kidambi Srikanth's campaign at the China Masters, a BWF Super 750 tournament, came to an end on Friday, 4 September after a straight-games quarterfinal defeat to Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong at the Shenzhen Arena. Srikanth went down 16-21, 16-21, unable to find an answer to the Hong Kong shuttler's consistency across both games.
A Rare Super 750 Quarterfinal, But No Further
Despite the loss, the quarterfinal appearance itself was significant — it marked Srikanth's first last-eight showing at a BWF World Tour Super 750 event or above in three years. He had arrived in Shenzhen in strong form, suggesting a return to competitive relevance at the elite level.
The head-to-head record between the two players, however, makes for sobering reading for Indian fans. Srikanth has now lost his last four consecutive matches against Lee. His solitary win over the Hong Kong player came in the first round of the 2018 India Open — the only time he has beaten Lee in his career.
Srikanth's Route to the Quarterfinal
The path Srikanth carved to reach the quarterfinals was impressive. In the pre-quarters, he produced a notable upset, defeating Victor Lai of Canada — World No. 9 and a recent World Championship bronze medallist — 21-18, 21-19. Before that, he had dispatched Chi Yu-jen of Chinese Taipei, ranked World No. 21, in a brisk 21-16, 21-15 victory that lasted just 35 minutes in the opening round.
Satwik-Chirag: India's Last Hope in Men's Doubles
With Srikanth's exit, former World No. 1 men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty remained the lone Indian challenge at the Super 750 event as of Friday. The pair were set to face Danish duo Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen in the quarterfinals for a semifinal berth.
Rankireddy and Shetty had reached the last eight by overcoming France's Toma Junior Popov and Christo Popov in a hard-fought 21-17, 22-24, 21-9 contest.
Women's Singles and Mixed Doubles Also Bow Out
India's women's singles campaign had already concluded on Thursday, when Tanvi Sharma fell to Japan's Tomoka Miyazaki 21-17, 18-21, 21-16 in a closely contested three-game encounter.
The mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Olympian Tanisha Crasto also exited the tournament after a 21-18, 21-18 second-round defeat to Chinese Taipei's Liu Kuang-Heng and Hsu Yin-Hui.
With Srikanth's exit, the burden of India's medal hopes at the China Masters 2024 rests entirely on Rankireddy and Shetty's shoulders heading into the semifinal stage.
Point of View
But the Lee Cheuk Yiu problem is becoming a structural one — four straight losses and a head-to-head that now reads entirely in the Hong Kong player's favour since 2018. More concerning is the broader India picture: with Sharma, Kapila-Crasto, and now Srikanth out, a tournament where India once had multiple contenders has narrowed to a single pair. Rankireddy and Shetty remain world-class, but the depth question will follow the squad into the Olympic cycle.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Kidambi Srikanth's result at the China Masters 2024?
Kidambi Srikanth lost in the quarterfinals of the China Masters BWF Super 750 to Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong by 16-21, 16-21 on 4 September in Shenzhen. It ended what was his first Super 750 quarterfinal appearance in three years.
What is Srikanth's head-to-head record against Lee Cheuk Yiu?
Srikanth has lost his last four consecutive matches against Lee Cheuk Yiu. His only career win over the Hong Kong player came in the first round of the 2018 India Open.
How did Srikanth reach the quarterfinals at the China Masters?
Srikanth defeated World No. 21 Chi Yu-jen of Chinese Taipei 21-16, 21-15 in the opening round, then upset World No. 9 and World Championship bronze medallist Victor Lai of Canada 21-18, 21-19 in the pre-quarters.
Which Indian players are still in contention at the China Masters 2024?
As of Friday, 4 September, former World No. 1 pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were the only Indians remaining, set to face Danish duo Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen in the quarterfinals.
How did other Indian players fare at the China Masters 2024?
Tanvi Sharma lost her women's singles match to Japan's Tomoka Miyazaki 21-17, 18-21, 21-16 on Thursday. Mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto were eliminated 21-18, 21-18 by Chinese Taipei's Liu Kuang-Heng and Hsu Yin-Hui in the second round.
