Malaysia Open 2025: Satwik and Chirag Advance to Semifinals
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Kuala Lumpur, Jan 10 (NationPress) The Indian badminton sensation duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, have showcased their exceptional talent by reaching the men’s doubles semifinals at the esteemed Malaysia Open Super 1000 tournament on Friday. The seventh-seeded pair secured victory against Malaysia’s Yew Sin Ong and Ee Yi Teo in straight games, 26-24, 21-15, after a gripping 49-minute quarterfinal battle.
This win marks their third consecutive appearance in the semifinals of this prestigious tournament, highlighting their consistent performance and growing dominance in men’s doubles badminton.
The first game proved to be an exhilarating contest, with both teams exhibiting tremendous skill and determination. Satwik and Chirag began with a strong start, taking an early lead, but the Malaysian duo, cheered on by their home crowd, mounted a fierce comeback. The Indian pair was pushed to the brink as the game extended into extra points. At 24-24, Satwik and Chirag remained composed, demonstrating exceptional reflexes and court awareness to clinch the first game 26-24 after an intense 28-minute showdown.
The Malaysian duo entered the second game with renewed energy, quickly claiming the lead and maintaining it until the mid-game interval. At 11-11, the Commonwealth and Asian Games medallists, Satwik and Chirag, shifted into high gear, displaying a series of well-coordinated smashes and clever drops. They dominated the next segment of the game, winning 13 of the next 17 points. Their ability to adjust under pressure and seize crucial moments proved vital, allowing them to finish the second game 21-15 and secure their semifinal spot.
Satwik and Chirag, who were runners-up in the last edition of the Malaysia Open BWF World Tour Super 1000, are now set to face a challenging semifinal match against South Korea’s Won Ho Kim and Seung Jae Seo.
Commenting on their performance, the Indian duo expressed, “What a fantastic start to the year; we couldn’t have asked for a better beginning. We aim to progress as far as possible in this tournament.”
Currently, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are the only Indian pair remaining in contention at the Malaysia Open, following the early exits of singles stars like Lakshya Sen, H.S. Prannoy, Priyanshu Rajawat, Malvika Bansod, Akarshi Kashyap, Anupama Upadhyay, and the Commonwealth Games bronze medallists Tresha Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who were all eliminated in the first two rounds.
