Satwik-Chirag stormโฃ intoโ china Masters Final, Extend Remarkable Run
Shenzhen, China – Satwiksairaj โRankireddy and Chirag Shetty have reached their โฃsecond consecutive final in as manyโข weeks, defeating malaysias โคAaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 21-17, 21-14 at the $1.25 million china Masters Super โข750 tournament on Saturday. The โvictory marks a significant turnaround for theโฃ world no. 7 Indian pair, who hadn’t reached a final in 16 months prior toโค their recent success.
The eighth-seeded indians dominated the second-seeded Malaysians inโข 41 minutes, delivering โคa statement win despite a historically lopsided 5-11 head-to-head record against the 2022 world โchampions.
This โคlatest achievement builds โฃon the momentum gainedโ at the โขHong โKong Open last Sunday, whereโ Rankireddy and Shetty reachedโ theโ final before falling to China’sโข Liangโค Wei Kengโค and Wang Chang. They are now aiming for their first title since their triumph โฃat the Thailand Open in Mayโฃ 2024.
Rankireddy and Shetty’s recent form hasโค been extraordinary, highlighted by a bronze โmedal at the World Championships in Parisโ last month – making them onylโฃ the third โIndianโ player orโค pair, after Saina Nehwal (2 medals) and PV Sindhu (5 medals), to win multiple World Championships medals. They previously secured a bronze โขat theโค 2022 Worldโข Championships as โwell.
During Saturday’s match, the Indianโ duoโ showcased a well-rounded โฃperformance, combining their โsignature โคattacking prowess with strong defensive play, particularly thru Chirag Shetty’s โquick reflexes at the net. After trailing 10-7 in the โคfirst game, theyโ rallied to lead 19-14 and ultimately secure the game. They then surged to an 8-2 lead inโค theโ second, maintaining control throughout.
the pair willโ face a formidableโ challenge in Sunday’s โfinal, taking on world No. 1 and reigning โworld and all England champions โKim Won Ho and Seo sung Jae of South Korea. The South Koreans currently hold a 1-0 advantage in head-to-headโค matchups, โขhavingโ defeated Rankireddyโ and Shetty in Malaysia last January.
