India’s Kiran George‘s impressive run at the Korea Masters badminton tournament ended in the semi-finals, where he lost to top-seeded Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand. George, who had shown remarkable form in the tournament, was defeated in straight games, with a scoreline of 12-21, 20-22, in a 53-minute contest on Saturday.
George, ranked 44th in the world, entered the match on a high, having delivered a stunning performance in the quarterfinals against fifth-seed Takuma Obayashi of Japan. The Indian shuttler dominated the match, winning 21-14, 21-16, and securing a spot in the semi-finals with a commanding display. Before that, he had also defeated third-seed Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei in the pre-quarterfinals, marking an impressive journey for the lone Indian in the tournament.
In the quarterfinal match against Obayashi, George took control early on, establishing a 15-6 lead in the first game. Though Obayashi managed to narrow the gap to 12-16, George’s resilience saw him clinch the first game convincingly. He maintained his momentum to wrap up the match in straight games, setting up the semi-final clash with Vitidsarn.
In the semi-final, however, the Thai shuttler proved too strong. Vitidsarn, known for his agility and tactical prowess, quickly took command of the first game, keeping George on the defensive. Despite George’s valiant efforts to mount a comeback in the second game, pushing Vitidsarn to 20-22, he ultimately fell short of securing a place in the final.
