Satwik-Chirag storm into China Masters semis with 21-13, 16-21, 21-18 win
Synopsis
Satwik and Chirag have done it again at Shenzhen — reaching the China Masters semifinals for the sixth straight edition since 2019. After dropping the second game, the Indian pair recovered to win the decider 21-18, keeping alive their bid to go one better than their runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2025.
Key Takeaways
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 21-13, 16-21, 21-18 to reach the China Masters Super 750 semifinals.
The Indian pair have reached the semifinals at the China Masters every year since 2019 , finishing runners-up in 2023 and 2025 .
Kidambi Srikanth lost 16-21, 16-21 to Lee Cheuk Yiu in the quarterfinals — his first QF at a Super 750 or above in three years .
Tanvi Sharma lost to Japan's Tomoka Miyazaki 21-17, 18-21, 21-16 , ending India's women's singles campaign.
Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto exited the mixed doubles in the second round, losing 21-18, 21-18 to Chinese Taipei.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty advanced to the semifinals of the China Masters Super 750 badminton tournament in Shenzhen on Friday, 4 September, defeating Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 21-13, 16-21, 21-18 in a hard-fought three-game contest. The Indian pair held their nerve in a tense decider to continue their dominant run at this event.
How the Match Unfolded
The Indian duo came out firing in the opening game, cruising to a 21-13 win. The Danes, however, responded sharply in the second game, levelling the contest at 16-21 to force a decider. In the third and decisive game, Satwik and Chirag showed composure under pressure, closing out the match 21-18 to book their semifinal berth.
A Record of Consistency at China Masters
The victory underscored the Indian pair's remarkable consistency at this tournament. Satwik and Chirag have now reached the semifinals at the China Masters in every edition since 2019, finishing runners-up in both 2023 and 2025. This win also marked their second career victory over Astrup and Rasmussen at this specific event, having previously beaten the Danish pair in the 2024 quarterfinals.
Srikanth's Run Ends in Quarterfinals
Kidambi Srikanth's campaign at the China Masters came to a close after a 16-21, 16-21 loss to Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong in the quarterfinals at the Shenzhen Arena. Despite the defeat, the outing was notable — it was Srikanth's first quarterfinal appearance in a BWF World Tour Super 750 event or above in three years. Lee has now won their last four consecutive head-to-head matches, with Srikanth's only career win over the Hong Kong shuttler coming in the first round of the 2018 India Open.
Srikanth had arrived at the quarterfinals on the back of a strong run, upsetting Canadian World No. 9 and recent World Championship bronze medallist Victor Lai with a 21-18, 21-19 win in the pre-quarterfinals. He had earlier dispatched Chinese Taipei's World No. 21 Chi Yu-jen 21-16, 21-15 in just 35 minutes in the opening round.
Other Indian Campaigns
India's women's singles challenge at the Super 750 event ended on Thursday when Tanvi Sharma fell to Japan's Tomoka Miyazaki 21-17, 18-21, 21-16. In mixed doubles, the pair of Dhruv Kapila and Olympian Tanisha Crasto exited in the second round, losing 21-18, 21-18 to Chinese Taipei's Liu Kuang-Heng and Hsu Yin-Hui.
With Satwik and Chirag still alive, India's hopes at the China Masters 2025 now rest entirely on the men's doubles pair as they target a title at a tournament where they have twice been runners-up.
Point of View
But the real question is whether they can convert it into a title — having been runners-up twice. Srikanth's quarterfinal run, though ended by Lee, is the more underreported story: a veteran rediscovering form at a Super 750 after three years is a significant signal for Indian men's singles, a department that has largely stagnated since his 2017 peak. India's mixed doubles and women's singles exits early underscore that the country's badminton depth beyond the top names remains a work in progress.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Satwik and Chirag win at the China Masters 2025?
Yes, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty beat Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 21-13, 16-21, 21-18 to advance to the semifinals of the China Masters Super 750 in Shenzhen on 4 September. They have now reached the semis at this event in every edition since 2019.
How far did Kidambi Srikanth go at the China Masters 2025?
Kidambi Srikanth reached the quarterfinals before losing 16-21, 16-21 to Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong. It was his first quarterfinal appearance at a BWF World Tour Super 750 event or above in three years.
What is Satwik and Chirag's record at the China Masters?
The Indian pair have reached the semifinals at the China Masters in every edition since 2019. They finished runners-up in both 2023 and 2025, and this is their second career win over Astrup and Rasmussen at this specific tournament.
How did other Indian players fare at the China Masters 2025?
Tanvi Sharma lost 21-17, 18-21, 21-16 to Japan's Tomoka Miyazaki in women's singles, ending India's campaign in that category. Mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also exited in the second round, losing 21-18, 21-18 to Chinese Taipei's Liu Kuang-Heng and Hsu Yin-Hui.
Who is Lee Cheuk Yiu and what is his record against Srikanth?
Lee Cheuk Yiu is a Hong Kong badminton player who has now won four consecutive matches against Kidambi Srikanth. Srikanth's only career win over Lee came in the first round of the 2018 India Open.
