Since the start of 2023, Kiran George had played out 14 tight finishes of 21-19, 22-20 or 23-21 score lines on the world tour, and won only 8 of those. One of India’s finest bludgeons from the back court, would fall back frustratingly in the endgame as his impressive strokeplay was rendered a footnote in losses.
On Thursday, Kiran, the world No.36, literally went ballistic in finishing in the Round of 16 at Indonesia Masters, winning 21-11, 13-21, 21-18 against China’s World No.19 Lu Guang Zu.
As he had missed out on opportunities to go deeper into draws, his coaches at the Prakash Padukone academy in Bangalore – Vimal Kumar, Sagar Chopda and DK Sen, had been drilling into him the importance of a strong, aggressive finish.
Kiran’s father George Thomas, had heard it all too often, how his son wasn’t pushing the pedal when required. It was a hard watch because George, the 1991 Indian national champion, was known for his blistering pace and muscled aggression while killing off points. Kiran’s soft exits stung.
Kiran’s father George Thomas was the 1991 Indian national champion.
After Thursday’s win in three, his father couldn’t contain his pride and was relieved at how the lad had finally unleashed his full aggression to nick a tight decider his way.
The first two sets swung equally and one-sidedly in either player’s direction. But it was in the decider when Kiran was three points adrift at 8-11 that the 23-year-old came charging at Lu. The hand speed showed a visible uptick, and Kiran stalked him all the way to 18-18, not conceding more than a 1 point lead.
The last three points from 18-all were pristine aggression as first a growling net dribble, then a signature scythe shot from the back and finally a lightning reflex from midcourt, all played at breathless speed, gave the Indian World No.36 a swashbuckling win over No.19 Zu to make the quarterfinals of a Super 500.
Wow, who would have thought the last standing Indian at a Super 500 is a qualifier. Kiran George continues his fine run with a three-game win against China’s Lu Guang Zu 🙌 pic.twitter.com/mTcvO5VPhY
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) January 25, 2024
“Kiran is far too cool on the court, don’t know if it’s a good thing or bad. I was the opposite, very aggressive. But he has far superior strokeplay,” explained George who won subjunior, and junior Nationals in doubles and the U21 and seniors singles crown, gaining domestic renown.
“Yet too many times he was leading by a big margin and still lost in recent years. People would say he lacks aggression. Internationally each point counts for a lot at the end.”
Kiran had beaten Chinese Shi Yuqi and Weng Hong Yang, who caused headaches to most Indians, rather easily last June. But a deep run in a tournament was missing, as headlines proved elusive.
Kiran had beaten Chinese Shi Yuqi and Weng Hong Yang, who caused headaches to most Indians, rather easily last June. But a deep run in a tournament was missing, as headlines proved elusive.
At Istora in Jakarta by Thursday, Kiran had played 4 matches including qualifying rounds, in 72 hours. All of them, three-setters.
After blitzing to take the Round 2 opener against Lu to whom he’d lost 21-10, 22-20 last October, Kiran watched the Chinese regroup and retaliate. Lu has a strong power game, a decent defense, and got his straight hits going to pull Kiran into a decider. The Indian was defending well in the second, but not taking his chances falling back 3-11, and eventually submitting 13-21.
Lu was hell bent in the decider on testing Kiran on the forehand far corner, pushing him back, because the Indian was proving too dangerous at the net. Lu underestimated just how good Kiran can be from the back court.
Not only does the Indian hit deep and hard from baseline, he has perhaps the best deception amongst Indians from the back. His long hits travel with a deep baritone. Both his slow drops and fast pushes fetch him points, even if he’s chased away from the net, where his tight dribbles aren’t bad at all.
Kiran’s repertoire of disguises and strokes from the back is classical, and the footwork moving front and back from corners to centre is so smooth and swift that he is never quite pinned to the baseline. The Chinese just couldn’t thwart Kiran merely by pinging him continually to that forehand back corner. The whip on the shuttle was audible and audacious.
Much to the chagrin of Lu, who tried to blast through, Kiran also unfurled some stinging winners struck when backtracking, showing spectacular balance on the move, as he anticipated and connected with the shuttle early. From 12-12, he was snapping at Lu’s heels, though the Chinese defense wasn’t wilting till 18-18.
Lu had wins over Lee Zii Jia, Anthony Ginting and Jonatan Christie this month. But at this point, Kiran pushed the fourth gear, and didn’t take his foot off the pedal, slashing down three straight points, for a gutsy win on a day when Lakshya Sen and Priyanshu Rajawat faded off in straight sets.
At Istora in Jakarta by Thursday, Kiran had played 4 matches including qualifying rounds, in 72 hours. All of them, three-setters.
George Thomas who was on the Indian team with Padukone and admired how quietly focussed he would be, was glad Kiran had kept at it, against the big-hitting Chinese. “I’ve watched Prakash train many times, and observed how he was after wins and losses. He wouldn’t even talk around matches. Kiran is very meticulous and focussed, but he needs to keep at it till the end. The tournament is still to be won,” he said.
Pedigree & the punch
George began playing badminton on outdoor courts in Chengannur village in Alappuzha district of Kerala and was prodigiously talented. Winning straightaway at GV Raja Sports school with his strong speedy hitting, he had moved 100 km to capital Trivandrum, and continued to win, making the national camps at Patiala, where a Chinese coach honed his game ahead of the National title in 1991. His brother Suresh Thomas too played and coached at Regional Sports centre, where Kiran and his elder sibling learnt their early games.
George was known for his speed. Moving to Bangalore though, Kiran found coaching expertise and grew into a highly skilled stroke player with many variations. His drops and backcourt deception are highly evolved, but the smash kill can take two shots far too many to fetch up. It’s not a scary smash yet, strictly make-do, but Kiran has far too many variations to be tied down. “People say he doesn’t have aggression. And he’s not naturally built, the muscle strength is still not wholly developed. But his strokes are good and he’s very positive. He got a little desperate after losing Thomas Cup trials, but usually he rebounds fast after losses,” his father says.
As a former player watching his son get all the technical and financial support, George says Kiran must take the next step. “He’s lucky he’s well supported. I tell him three things – stay focussed till the end, take care of your body and learn to peak for big matches. At this level, everyone has strength and fitness. But the best players know to peak in big moments.”