How Did Satwik-Chirag Reach the Quarters at the China Open?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Satwik and Chirag demonstrate remarkable teamwork.
- Their victory reinforces India's presence in badminton.
- They recognize areas for improvement in their gameplay.
- The match showcased high-level badminton skills from both teams.
- Continuing to build confidence is key for their success.
Changzhou, July 24 (NationPress) India’s leading men’s doubles team, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, maintained their impressive performance at the China Open, a prestigious BWF Super 1000 tournament, securing a spot in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
The World No. 12 pair showcased a steady display, narrowly defeating Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Bagas Maulana with scores of 21-19, 21-19, reinforcing their strong intentions to compete for the title.
This victory in men’s doubles kept India’s hopes alive in the BWF World Series Super 1000 event, especially after HS Prannoy faced elimination against World No. 6 Chou Tien Chen from Chinese Taipei in a challenging men’s singles match.
During their post-match discussion, Satwik and Chirag expressed that they could have limited their opponents more effectively in the second game. Chirag noted that the first game was tightly contested until they secured the last few crucial points.
"In the first game, it was rather unpredictable with a lot of back-and-forth play, and we didn’t establish a significant lead. At times we were ahead by 2 points or vice versa. Ultimately, at around 16, we made a breakthrough, scoring 3-4 points consecutively to clinch that game," Chirag elaborated.
He mentioned that they could have approached the second game with a more composed attitude, potentially finishing it earlier.
"We should have started the second game more cautiously. It could have been calmer, allowing us to restrict them significantly. However, they executed some excellent badminton, particularly in their service returns. Nonetheless, we are pleased to have secured the win," Chirag added.
Satwik shared that both teams were quite evenly matched but admitted they became somewhat passive in the second game, which made it more challenging.
"We felt both sides were quite similar, with no major differences. However, as Chirag mentioned, after the first game, we gained confidence but became less aggressive. We made too many errors, unlike in the first game, allowing them to find their rhythm. Despite this, we managed to stay united even when trailing in the second game. It was a matter of executing 12 effective services, and we are truly happy with the victory," Satwik concluded.