Having stunned World number 5 Jan Jorgensen in straight games, Indian ace badminton player Kidambi Srikanth said he was well prepared with his strategy against the Dane that helped him secure a quarter-final spot in the Rio Olympics.
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Srikanth won 21-19, 21-19 in a 42-minute match to set up a clash with two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan of China and Srikanth said he had studied Jorgensen's game as he had played him in 2014.
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"I last played him in 2014 so it's been quite a long time and I was really well prepared with my strategy," said the 23-year-old from Guntur, who had come into the match with a 1-2 head-to-head record against Jorgensen.
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It was a very close match with both the badminton players going neck and neck till the end with Srikanth sealing some crucial points to go ahead.
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"My attack really worked. If I have the chance to kill the shuttle I am really going for it otherwise I'm really happy to make the long rallies," he said. "I was really happy to kill those crucial three points in the end.
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"My strategy worked really well at that particular moment. It happens in every match that the opponent starts reading your game and it only depends on how well you get back. I think I was really fast and quick and I didn't give him any big leads at that particular moment." On his strategy, Srikanth said: "What matters in the end are those simple points which in the beginning really changed the game.
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"I really don't want to take too much pressure, force the pace and make too many mistakes. I wanted to play safe and not give too many easy points away."
Rio 2016: Was Prepared With Strategy Against Jorgensen, Says Kidambi Srikanth
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Kidambi Srikanth won 21-19, 21-19 in a 42-minute match to advance to the quarter-finals of Rio Olympics
Kidambi Srikanth in action against Denmark's Jan Jorgensen.© AFP
Highlights
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Kidambi Srikanth stunned World No 5 Jan Jorgensen
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Srikanth had arrived at the court with a 1-2 record against Jorgensen
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Srikanth will face Lin Dan of China in the quarter-finals