Satwik-Chirag Reach China Masters Semis; Sindhu Falls to An Se Young Again
Satwik-Chirag enter China Masters semis; Sindhu exits after another loss to world no. 1 An Se Young.
India’s premier men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, continued their stellar form at the China Masters Super 750 badminton tournament, advancing to the semifinals with a commanding 21-14, 21-14 victory over China’s Ren Xiang Yu and Xie Haonan on Friday. Meanwhile, double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu’s struggles persisted, as she succumbed to an eighth consecutive defeat against world No. 1 An Se Young, falling 14-21, 13-21 in the women’s singles quarterfinals.
Ranked ninth globally, Satwik and Chirag, fresh off a World Championships bronze in Paris and a runners-up finish at the Hong Kong Open, showcased their dominance from the outset. They surged to a 7-0 lead with powerful smashes, maintaining an 11-5 advantage at the first game’s interval. Despite attempts by the Chinese pair to disrupt their rhythm with flat rallies and front-court play, the Indians stayed aggressive. Chirag’s flick serve and precise tosses, coupled with a sharp body attack, secured the opening game.
The second game saw a tighter start, leveling at 7-7, but disciplined net play and Chirag’s consecutive smashes propelled the duo to a 19-13 lead, sealing the match on their first match point. They are set to face Malaysia’s second-seeded Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in the semifinals on Saturday.
In contrast, Sindhu’s match against An Se Young was one-sided. The Korean took an early 6-1 lead, with Sindhu narrowing it to 5-9 via a cross-court drop. However, An’s powerful smashes and deception led to an 11-5 advantage at the interval, and she clinched the first game after Sindhu’s net error. The second game saw Sindhu briefly lead 3-2, but An regained control, leading 11-7 at the break.
Despite Sindhu’s attempts with front-court drops and round-the-head smashes, An’s superior variety secured eight match points, closing the match with a cross-court smash. Reflecting on the loss, Sindhu said, “I made a few unforced errors and gave her an early lead. There were some good rallies, but she kept a 5-6 point advantage. I need to reflect on what needs improvement and come back stronger.”
Also Read: Satwik and Chirag Advance to Hong Kong Open Semifinals
Sindhu, who reached the quarterfinals after a disappointing Hong Kong Open, viewed the tournament positively, stating, “Reaching the quarterfinals has been encouraging. The key now is to maintain that level and stay consistent.” As Satwik and Chirag charge toward another potential title, Sindhu’s focus shifts to addressing her inconsistencies to challenge An Se Young in future encounters, signaling India’s mixed fortunes at the China Masters.
Also Read: Satwik and Chirag Advance to Hong Kong Open Semifinals
