Kumamoto Masters 2026: Lakshya Sen Reaches Semifinals, Kidambi Srikanth Exits
Lakshya Sen defeated Japan’s Yushi Tanaka in straight games to enter the men’s singles semifinals, while Kidambi Srikanth suffered a quarter-final defeat against Koki Watanabe at the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500.
India witnessed contrasting results at the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2026 as Lakshya Sen advanced to the men’s singles semifinals, while Kidambi Srikanth’s campaign came to an end in the quarter-finals on Friday, November 13.
Eighth seed Lakshya produced a composed performance to defeat home favourite Yushi Tanaka 21-16, 21-15 in 40 minutes at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium. The Indian shuttler maintained control throughout the contest despite strong support for the Japanese player.
The victory keeps Lakshya’s hopes alive in the BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament and strengthens his bid to qualify for the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals.
Lakshya Sen Enters Kumamoto Masters Semifinals
Lakshya started the quarter-final with an attacking approach and gradually established control over the rallies. Although Tanaka attempted to challenge him with his defensive play, the Indian maintained his advantage to take the opening game 21-16.
The second game also witnessed competitive exchanges, but Lakshya’s aggressive smashes and accurate placements helped him create a comfortable lead. He eventually closed out the match 21-15 to secure his place in the last four.
Lakshya will next face Indonesia’s sixth seed Alwi Farhan in the semifinals. The Indian has lost both his previous encounters against the Indonesian shuttler and will look to reverse that record.
Lakshya Sen Targets BWF World Tour Finals Qualification
The Kumamoto Masters is an important tournament for Lakshya as he continues his pursuit of a place in the BWF World Tour Finals. He currently occupies 12th position in the World Tour rankings with 64,980 points and needs to break into the top eight to qualify.
Having recently won the Hylo Open in Germany, Lakshya will aim to maintain his winning momentum and secure another major result in Japan.
Kidambi Srikanth Loses to Koki Watanabe
Meanwhile, Kidambi Srikanth suffered a 22-24, 15-21 defeat against Japan’s Koki Watanabe in the men’s singles quarter-finals.
The former world number one fought hard in the opening game, which went beyond the 21-point mark. However, Watanabe eventually secured it 24-22 after a closely contested battle.
Srikanth appeared to be in a strong position in the second game after building a 12-5 lead. However, the Japanese shuttler fought back strongly, capitalising on the Indian’s errors to turn the match around.
Watanabe won 16 of the final 19 points to take the second game 21-15 and book his place in the semifinals.
Srikanth’s Impressive Run Ends in Japan
Despite the quarter-final disappointment, Srikanth had an encouraging campaign in Kumamoto. One of his biggest performances came in the previous round when he defeated Japan’s fifth seed and world number eight Kodai Naraoka 21-15, 11-21, 21-18.
The victory was particularly significant as it marked Srikanth’s first win over Naraoka in five meetings.
With Srikanth eliminated, Lakshya Sen remains India’s sole representative in the men’s singles semifinals at the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2026.
