Semis for Satwik-Chirag - Sindhu’s hopes dashed

India’s top men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, continued their impressive run at the China Masters Super 750 badminton tournament on Friday, cruising into the semifinals with a commanding victory. Meanwhile, star shuttler P V Sindhu’s struggles against world No.1 An Se Young continued as she bowed out in the quarterfinals.

Satwik and Chirag, the former world No.1 Indian duo, recently clinched their second World Championships bronze in Paris and were runners-up at the Hong Kong Open last week. The pair carried their rich form into Shenzhen, overpowering China’s Ren Xiang Yu and Xie Haonan 21-14, 21-14 in a dominant quarterfinal performance.

“We felt quite comfortable on court. Our focus was on our game and reading their responses. The way we’re playing now, without any niggles, feels great,” said Satwik. Chirag added, “We made it tough for them right from the start, didn’t let them settle, and took an early lead. Happy with the performance.”

Currently ranked ninth in the world, the Indian pair will likely face Malaysian second seeds and long-time rivals Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in Saturday’s semifinals.

The match started with a flurry of aggressive smashes from the Indians, racing to a 7-0 lead. Despite a brief Chinese comeback, Satwik and Chirag maintained their rhythm, entering the mid-game interval 11-5 ahead. Sharp net play and precise smashes allowed them to close the first game comfortably. The second game began evenly, but the Indians gradually pulled away with disciplined net play and powerful smashes, eventually sealing the match 21-14, 21-14.

On the women’s singles front, Sindhu faced a familiar challenge in An Se Young. The Olympic champion dominated from the start, opening up an early 6-1 lead in the first game and never looking back, eventually winning 21-14, 21-13. Despite Sindhu’s attempts with clever drops and attacking strokes, An’s superior smashes and deceptive play kept her in control throughout.

“An maintained a 5-6 point lead throughout, and even when I tried to close the gap, she stayed ahead. There were some good rallies, but I made unforced errors. It’s a learning experience, and I’ll come back stronger next time,” Sindhu said.

While Sindhu’s campaign ended earlier than hoped, Satwik and Chirag’s impressive performance kept India’s hopes alive in men’s doubles, setting up a high-stakes semifinal clash that promised fireworks.