Satwik-Chirag Storm Into China Masters Semis
India’s ace men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty battled through a gruelling three-game contest against Denmark’s Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen to storm into the semifinals of the China Masters Super 750 on Friday.
The fourth-seeded Indian duo prevailed 21-13, 16-21, 21-18 in a 70-minute battle, continuing their impressive run after a silver-medal finish at the Thailand Open Super 500 and a title-winning campaign at the Singapore Open Super 750 in May.
Satwik and Chirag will face Malaysian duo Nur Mohd Azriyn and Tan Wee Kiong, ranked 29th in the world, in the semifinals.
Indians Make Flying Start
Satwik and Chirag came out firing, racing to a 5-1 lead and immediately taking control of the rallies with their aggressive strokeplay and a flurry of winners.
The Indian pair maintained their attacking rhythm and steadily increased the pressure on the Danish combination.
They opened up a seven-point cushion at 16-9 before closing out the opening game comfortably 21-13.
However, Astrup and Rasmussen responded strongly in the second game, raising their intensity and matching the Indians shot for shot.
The two pairs remained locked at 15-15 before the Danes produced a decisive burst of six points across two runs to force a decider.
Satwik-Chirag Hold Their Nerve
The third game lived up to its billing as a tense battle, with neither pair willing to give away any easy points.
The score remained level at 17-17, leaving the contest finely poised.
Satwik and Chirag then produced their best badminton when it mattered most, stringing together three crucial points to move 20-17 ahead.
After conceding one point, the Indians kept their composure to seal the game 21-18 and complete a hard-fought victory.
The win sends the fourth seeds into the last four of the prestigious Super 750 tournament and keeps their strong run of form alive.
Malaysian Test Awaits
Satwik and Chirag will now take on Nur Mohd Azriyn and Tan Wee Kiong in the semifinals.
The Malaysian pair, ranked 29th in the world, will present another challenge for the Indians as they look to move one step closer to another major title.
The Indian duo’s recent results have strengthened their confidence, with the Thailand Open final appearance followed by their Singapore Open triumph in May.
They will now aim to carry that momentum into the semifinals in Shenzhen and secure a place in the China Masters final.
