Al Ain, UAE — India’s former world No. 1, Kidambi Srikanth, was stunned in the men’s singles semi‑final of the Al Ain Masters 2025, a BWF Super 100 event. Malaysia’s teenage pick‑up Aidil Sholeh pulled off a career‑best win, setting up an all‑Indian women’s final that will see rising stars Tasnim Mir and Shriyanshi Valishetty clash on Sunday.
Sholeh, playing as an independent now, faced a tough second game as Srikanth switched tactics. “It was a rocky moment, but I kept my cool,” he said after taking the match 21‑14, 18‑21, 22‑20. Sholeh’s victory is his second Super 100 final, following a silver medal at last year’s Indonesia Masters.
In the other men’s semi‑final, Finland’s No. 54 Joakim Oldorff edged Vietnam’s Hai Dang Nguyen 21‑17, 21‑17. The European Championships bronze medallist now reaches his first Super 100 final, calling it his biggest senior breakthrough.
India’s own teenage duo are on the way to their first major final. Tasnim Mir, 20, from Gujarat, came back from a game down to beat Turkey’s Neslihan Arin 9‑21, 21‑17, 21‑10. “Reaching the final is a big step for me and my ranking,” Mir said, echoing her former world junior lead.
Shriyanshi Valishetty was more clinical, winning 21‑11, 21‑12 against Indonesia’s Chiara Marvella Handoyo to secure her spot.
A shocking upset also unfolded in women’s doubles. Taipei’s 17‑year‑old pair Liang Ching Sun and Yan Fei Chen knocked out Australian Olympians Gronya Somerville and Angela Yu 21‑11, 21‑17 in just 27 minutes. The teenage Chinese Taipei duo, also Asian Junior U‑17 champions, have advanced to their first Super 100 final, where they will meet Bulgaria’s top‑seeded Stoeva sisters.
With roughly 300 players from 38 nations competing, the Al Ain Masters 2025 – the only BWF event in the Middle East – heads into its highly anticipated final round on Sunday. Fans can expect spirited matches and the rise of new badminton talent from around the world.
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