Sathish Kumar Karunakaran, the 51st-ranked Indian badminton player, stunned world No. 7
Chou Tien Chen at the
Malaysia Masters Super 500, winning in straight games 21-13, 21-14 in just 39 minutes. This victory is considered the biggest of his career.
Sathish expressed his emotional connection to the win, stating,
This is the first tournament that my entire family is there to watch. They are very happy with the hard work we’ve put in, even as a family, and they have trusted me completely. His journey in badminton began at age 13, inspired by his brother Arun Kumar.
Training under coach
Jivananthan Nair in Malaysia, Sathish has seen significant improvements in his game. He noted,
My confidence level has improved a lot. My shot choices have become better and more consistent. His tactical play, including effective jump smashes, troubled Chou throughout the match.
Sathish's victory adds to his recent successes, including wins at the
2023 Odisha Masters and
2024 Guwahati Masters. He remarked,
I was searching for the breakthrough for quite some time and I am happy to have recorded my biggest win. Sources: 
Sathish Kumar Karunakaran, ranked 51st in the world, achieved a stunning upset by defeating world No. 7 Chou Tien Chen in straight games at the Malaysia Masters Super 500, marking the biggest win of his career. The match concluded with scores of 21-13, 21-14 in just 39 minutes.
