Fitness levels of 2017 is not enough now: Srikanth

Kidambi Srikanth says the game has become very physical and he needs to match new fitness standards if he has achieve his goal of playing finals consistently and competing at the Tokyo Olympics.

Srikanth said his fitness level of 2017 - when he won four titles - is not enough to get results now.

"My goal is to play a lot of finals," Srikanth said after outwitting fellow Indian B Sai Praneeth 21-23 21-11 21-19 in a 62-minute pulsating contest to finally snap his series of quarterfinal finishes.

"Players have become much fitter since 2017, they have grown from there. If I'm as fit as I was in 2017, I don't think that's enough for 2019."
"It's about doing well at the Olympics for me. It's a month from now, the qualification is going to start- it's about improving my fitness and doing well at the Olympics."
"When you play with a fellow player, it's definitely going to be this close and a bit of luck and few important point in the end makes the difference. I was just happy with the way I played."