Srikanth Loses China Masters Quarter-Final To Lee Cheuk Yiu 21-16

Kidambi Srikanth’s campaign at the 2026 China Masters came to an end after he suffered a straight-games defeat to Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu in the quarter-finals. The former world No. 1 was beaten 21-16, 21-16 at the BWF World Tour Super 750 event. Despite the loss, Srikanth’s run marked a significant return to the latter stages of a major tournament.

Srikanth made a positive start to the opening game, taking the first two points, but Lee quickly settled and began controlling the rallies. The Hong Kong player maintained his advantage for most of the game, preventing Srikanth from building sustained pressure. The Indian mounted a late challenge, but Lee had created enough of a cushion to close out the opening game 21-16.

The second game appeared to offer Srikanth a stronger opportunity to level the contest after he raced to a 4-0 lead. However, four consecutive unforced errors allowed Lee to recover and regain control. Srikanth continued to battle and produced several high-quality points, eventually moving ahead 15-14. Lee responded immediately, regained momentum and finished the match in straight games.

Also Read: BCCI Tasks Sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi To Emulate Sachin Tendulkar After Board Meeting

The defeat also extended Lee’s advantage in their recent head-to-head meetings. Srikanth has now lost their last four encounters, with his only victory over the Hong Kong shuttler coming in the opening round of the 2018 India Open. The latest result means Lee advances further in Shenzhen, while Srikanth’s challenge at one of the season’s major World Tour events comes to an end.

Despite the quarter-final defeat, Srikanth’s performance represents an encouraging milestone in his recent campaign. It was his first quarter-final appearance at a BWF World Tour Super 750 event or higher in three years. He began his China Masters campaign with a 21-16, 21-15 victory over Chinese Taipei’s world No. 21 Chi Yu-jen before producing another strong performance against world No. 9 Victor Lai.

Srikanth defeated Lai 21-18, 21-19 in the round of 16, building momentum after entering the tournament without a recent quarter-final appearance at this level. The victory had raised expectations for his campaign in Shenzhen, but Lee ultimately proved too strong in the last-eight encounter. Srikanth will nevertheless take confidence from reaching the quarter-finals of a major BWF event and defeating a top-10 opponent during his run.

Also Read: BCCI Begins South Africa Talks After Gambhir-Gill Demand Crucial ODI Preparation Series