India’s top pair clinch spot in final

Indian men’s doubles stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty continued their fine run with a commanding straight-game victory over Malaysia’s former world champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, booking their place in the China Masters Super 750 final on Saturday.

Fresh from a World Championships bronze and a runner-up finish at last week’s Hong Kong Open, the Asian Games gold medallists showed no signs of slowing down, defeating their long-time rivals 21-17, 21-14 in a 41-minute semi final clash.

Heading into the match, Satwik and Chirag held a 4-11 head-to-head record against Aaron and Soh, who are also two-time Olympic medallists. However, the Indians had gained confidence from their recent win over the Malaysians en route to their World Championships bronze in Paris.

Saturday’s contest saw Satwik and Chirag adopt an aggressive attacking approach, combining sharp smashes with tight defence and dominant front-court play. The Malaysians, particularly Aaron, struggled to find rhythm throughout the encounter.

The first game was closely contested. Aaron and Soh initially took a 10-7 lead with four straight points, but a series of unforced errors allowed the Indians to claw back. At 14-13, another mistake from Aaron gave Satwik and Chirag the momentum. The Indian duo capitalised on smashes and Malaysian errors to reach 18-14. A sharp return from Satwik created four game points, and the opener was sealed on the second opportunity.

In the second game, Satwik and Chirag started strong, racing to a 5-2 lead and later extending it to 8-2, thanks to Satwik powerful smashes and Chirag’s clever front-court play. Although the Malaysians narrowed the gap to 6-8, the Indians maintained control and led 11-6 at the interval.

Aaron and Soh tried to fight back, reducing the deficit to 9-11, but Satwik and Chirag responded with a decisive run, stretching the lead to 15-9. Satwik’s thunderous smash followed by a lucky net cord, coupled with Chirag’s deep returns and finishing smash, sealed the victory.

With this win, Satwik and Chirag advance to their second consecutive men’s doubles final of the season, aiming to continue their winning streak and add another Super 750 title to their growing list of achievements.