When Kidambi Srikanth beat Lin Dan of China in the Chinese Super Series badminton tournament recently, it was much more than an upset. It could well have been the defining moment of Indian badminton since for the first time, cracks could be seen all over the stubborn wall of Chinese badminton.


Kidambi Srikanth celebrates after beating Lin Dan to win China Open title in Fuzhou last Sunday. Pic/AFP 

How did it all start for Srikanth? After winning the All England championships in 2001, P Gopichand was felicitated in Guntur at a function attended by Srikanth and his elder brother Nanda Gopal, who were accompanied by their father KVS Krishna.