Satwik-Chirag beat Popov brothers 21-17, 22-24, 21-9 to reach China Masters QF
Synopsis
Satwik and Chirag dropped the second game but came roaring back with a dominant 21-9 decider to eliminate the Popov brothers at the China Masters. The World No. 5 pair, still smarting from a quarter-final exit at the BWF World Championships, are building momentum in Shenzhen.
Key Takeaways
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov 21-17, 22-24, 21-9 on 3 September in Shenzhen.
The Indian pair, seeded fourth , recovered from dropping the second game to dominate the decider.
Satwik-Chirag finished with 64 points overall against the Popovs' 50 .
The duo had earlier beaten Malaysia's Junaidi Arif and Kang Khai Xing 21-11, 21-16 in the round of 32.
5 pair's previous tournament was the BWF World Championships in New Delhi, where they exited at the quarter-final stage.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty advanced to the quarter-finals of the China Masters in Shenzhen on 3 September, defeating France's Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov 21-17, 22-24, 21-9 in a hard-fought three-game contest. The fourth-seeded Indian pair recovered from dropping the second game to dominate the decider and book their last-eight berth.
How the Match Unfolded
The opening game was evenly poised in the early exchanges before Satwik and Chirag gradually asserted control, closing it out 21-17. The Popov brothers hit back in the second, sustaining pressure on the Indians and edging a tense finish to level the match at 24-22.
With the contest locked at one game apiece, the Indian duo shifted gears decisively. They seized command of the decider from the outset, built a commanding lead, and shut out the French pair 21-9 — a margin that reflected the gulf in attacking intensity in the final stages.
Scoreboard and Statistics
Across all three games, Satwik and Chirag accumulated 64 points to the Popov brothers' 50. The Indians also won nine game points during the match, while the French pair converted just two.
Tournament Context
The pair entered the China Masters as fourth seeds and had opened their campaign with a straight-games victory — 21-11, 21-16 in 40 minutes — over Malaysia's Junaidi Arif and Kang Khai Xing in the round of 32.
The World No. 5 duo's most recent outing before Shenzhen was at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi, where they were eliminated at the quarter-final stage by China's Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, 21-18, 21-9. The pair had been bronze medallists at the previous edition of the same tournament.
What's Next
Satwik and Chirag will next face quarter-final action at the China Masters, where a stronger showing in the decider will give them confidence heading into what is expected to be a tougher draw in the last eight.
Point of View
They are difficult to live with. But dropping the second game 24-22 — after winning the first — points to a recurring vulnerability in sustained pressure situations, one that China's top pairs will look to exploit in the quarter-finals. Their BWF World Championships exit in New Delhi was also at the last-eight stage, making this a critical juncture for the pair's tournament-winning credentials in the second half of the season.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Satwik and Chirag win at the China Masters today?
Yes, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated France's Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov 21-17, 22-24, 21-9 on 3 September in Shenzhen to advance to the China Masters quarter-finals.
What is Satwik and Chirag's current world ranking?
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are currently ranked World No. 5 in men's doubles badminton.
How did Satwik-Chirag perform in the BWF World Championships?
The pair exited the BWF World Championships at the quarter-final stage in New Delhi, losing to China's Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang 21-18, 21-9. They had been bronze medallists at the previous edition of the tournament.
Who did Satwik and Chirag beat in the round of 32 at the China Masters?
They defeated Malaysia's Junaidi Arif and Kang Khai Xing 21-11, 21-16 in 40 minutes in the round of 32 at the China Masters.
What was the overall points tally in the Satwik-Chirag vs Popov match?
Satwik and Chirag finished with 64 points across the three games compared to the Popov brothers' 50. The Indians also won nine game points during the match, while the French pair converted just two.
