Can Satwik-Chirag Capture Their Second Title at China Masters 2025?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rankireddy and Shetty are through to the finals of the China Masters 2025.
- The duo showcased strong performance against the second seeds.
- They will face tough competition from the final's opposing team.
- The Indian team aims for their second title this season.
- Their journey emphasizes the rise of Indian badminton on the global stage.
Shenzhen (China), Sep 20 (NationPress) – The premier Indian men's doubles duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, have advanced to their second final of the season after an impressive showing at the China Masters 2025 on Saturday.
The Indian team, seeded eighth in this BWF World Series tournament, decisively defeated the second-seeded Malaysian pair of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, securing a straight-games triumph of 21-17, 21-14 in just 41 minutes at the Shenzhen Arena.
In the upcoming final, they will face the winner from the second semifinal between the top-seeded Korean duo of Won Ho Kim and Seung Jae Seo against the Indonesian pair of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri.
During the semifinal match, Rankireddy and Shetty initially maintained a close contest, with the score tied at 13-13. They gradually built a lead to 19-14, ultimately winning the first game 21-17.
In the second game, the Indian team took control early with an 8-2 advantage. Although the Malaysians narrowed the gap to 8-6, Rankireddy and Shetty responded with four consecutive points to extend their lead to 10-6. Despite the Malaysian pair's efforts to close in at 11-9, the Indians held their ground, winning the game 21-14 and securing their spot in the final.
Rankireddy and Shetty, who recently finished as runners-up in the Hong Kong Open 2025, had previously triumphed over China's Ren Xiang Yu and Xie Haonan with a score of 21-14, 21-14 in the quarterfinals.
The former World No. 1 duo remains the sole Indian representation in this elite tournament after the top women's singles player, P.V. Sindhu, was eliminated in the quarterfinals by top seed An Se Young of Korea, losing 14-21, 13-21 in 38 minutes at Court 2 of the gymnasium on Shangbu North Road.