Kidambi Srikanth tops prize money list after back-to-back Superseries wins

Kidambi Srikanth’s three straight finals – including back-to-back victories in Indonesia and Australia Superseries – has made him the richest shuttler in the overall prize money standings, surpassing Tai Tzu Ying.

India’s ace shuttler Kidambi Srikanth is cashing in on his super show in the last couple of months.

Kidambi Srikanth defeated current Olympic champion Chen Long 22-20, 21-16 to clinch the men’s singles crown at the $750,000 Australian Open Superseries. (AP)

Srikanth’s three straight finals – including back-to-back victories in Indonesia and Australia Superseries – has made him the richest shuttler in the overall prize money standings, surpassing Tai Tzu Ying.

(Read | Kidambi Srikanth outclasses Olympic champ Chen Long to win Australian Open)

Before the Singapore Open, where the turnaround in his fortunes started after finishing runner-up, Srikanth’s had only won US$16,597.50 (approximately Rs 10 lakh) on court this year. However, that has jumped to US$147,847.50 (over Rs 95 lakh) thanks to victories in the Indonesia Open and the Australian Open.

(Read | Don’t know what the future holds: Kidambi Srikanth after Australian Open glory)

The 24-year-old Guntur lad’s earnings are more than double that of Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei who trails in second with US$71,300 while China’s Lin Dan is third with US$69,795 and Chou Tien Chen (Chinese Taipei) is fourth with US$53,150.00.

Meanwhile, 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist PV Sindhu – with her earnings of $47,075 (Rs 30 lakh) — is placed seventh on the list of women’s singles players. She is also the only other Indian shuttler in the top 10 earners across categories.