Satwik and Chirag Advance to Hong Kong Open Semifinals

India’s premier men’s doubles badminton pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, continued their impressive form by advancing to the semifinals of the Hong Kong Open Super 500 tournament on Friday. The world No. 9 duo, fresh from securing a bronze medal at the BWF World Championships, defeated Malaysia’s Arif Junaidi and Roy King Yap in a gripping three-game match, concluding with a score of 21-14, 20-22, 21-16 in a 64-minute battle.

The eighth-seeded Indian pair faced an initial challenge in the first game but found their rhythm at 12-all, unleashing powerful smashes to dominate the closing stages and secure the last five points consecutively. The Malaysians mounted a strong comeback in the second game, matching the Indians’ court coverage and taking an early lead after equalizing at 6-all. Despite Satwik and Chirag leveling the score at 20-all, the Malaysian duo held firm to win the game and force a decider.

In the third game, Satwik and Chirag elevated their performance, maintaining control throughout and preventing their opponents from taking the lead. Their superior coordination and strategic play ensured a comfortable victory, sealing their place in the semifinals of the USD 500,000 event.

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The Indian pair’s journey to the semifinals follows a hard-fought quarterfinal win on Thursday against Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul. With their current momentum, Satwik and Chirag are poised to make a strong bid for the title, reinforcing their status as one of the world’s top badminton doubles teams.

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