HYDERABAD : India’s top men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, maintained their impressive form by cruising into the round of 16 at the China Masters 2025 with a clinical 24-22, 21-13 victory over Malaysia’s Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap at the Shenzhen Arena.
Coming fresh from their runners-up finish at the Hong Kong Open last week, the duo showcased composure under pressure, especially in a fiercely contested first game where they saved two game points before clinching it 24-22. Satwik reflected on their performance: “I think the way we are playing, we are up there. It’s just a matter of time and we should believe in ourselves.” Chirag added, “Every player wants to win titles, but credit to the opponents, they played well. We remain happy with our performance and look forward to the next challenge.”
In the second game, Satwik and Chirag took control early, pulling away to a convincing 21-13 finish to seal the 42-minute encounter. Their next hurdle is the Chinese Taipei pair Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin.
Meanwhile, in men’s singles, Lakshya Sen, last week’s Hong Kong Open finalist, suffered a stunning upset when he bowed out in the first round, losing 11-21, 10-21 to France’s Toma Junior Popov. The early exit was a disappointment for Sen, who struggled to find rhythm against a determined opponent.
The China Masters continues to test India’s badminton hopes, with Satwik-Chirag standing tall as the country’s leading contenders in doubles and Lakshya seeking to rebound in future tournaments.
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