Srikanth stuns Naraoka as Lakshya reaches Kumamoto quarters

Kidambi Srikanth produced a major three-game win over defending champion Kodai Naraoka to reach the men’s singles quarterfinals at the 2026 Kumamoto Masters Japan Super500 on Thursday, joining Lakshya Sen in the final eight.

Srikanth defeated Japan’s world No. 8 Naraoka 21-15, 11-21, 21-18 in an hour-long contest. Lakshya, meanwhile, progressed after a 21-8, 21-14 victory over China’s Tian Yao Dong.

The two Indian players are now through to Friday’s quarterfinal action, with Srikanth set to face Koki Watanabe and Lakshya scheduled to meet Yushi Tanaka.

Srikanth breaks through against defending champion

The victory over Naraoka marked Srikanth’s first success against the Japanese player in five meetings on the circuit. It was also a significant result against the reigning champion and one of the tournament’s highest-ranked players.

Srikanth took the opening game 21-15 before Naraoka levelled the match emphatically, winning the second 21-11. The deciding game went the distance, with Srikanth eventually prevailing 21-18.

Naraoka mounted a late fightback in the decider and saved two match points, but Srikanth closed out the match to secure his place in the last eight. The result gives the former world No. 1 a chance to reach his first semifinal in five months.

Next up for Srikanth is Watanabe, against whom he holds a 2-0 head-to-head advantage. Their Friday meeting will determine whether Srikanth can turn his notable win over Naraoka into a semifinal place at the Super500 event.

Lakshya advances in straight games

Lakshya’s route to the quarterfinals was more straightforward. He overcame Tian Yao Dong 21-8, 21-14, completing the match in two games to join Srikanth among the remaining men’s singles contenders.

The 25-year-old arrived in Kumamoto after winning the Hylo Open in Germany and has continued that form at the Japanese tournament. His next opponent, Tanaka, is another home player, with Lakshya holding a 2-0 advantage in their previous meetings.

The straight-games result against Tian gives Lakshya a clean progression into Friday’s quarterfinal, where he will seek to extend his recent run following the title success in Germany.

Two Indian contenders remain in men’s singles

Srikanth and Lakshya advancing means India will have two representatives in the men’s singles quarterfinals at the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super500. Their paths now remain separate, with both facing Japanese opposition in the final-eight matches.

For Srikanth, the immediate focus is building on a breakthrough first win over Naraoka. For Lakshya, the task is to carry his recent tournament-winning momentum into another matchup against Tanaka.

Friday’s quarterfinals will decide whether either player can move into the semifinal stage, with Srikanth aiming for his first semifinal in five months and Lakshya looking to sustain the form that brought him the Hylo Open title.