China Masters 2025: Satwik-Chirag, Srikanth advance; Sen exits in Round of 32
Synopsis
India's China Masters campaign took shape in Shenzhen on Wednesday — Satwik-Chirag and Srikanth advanced comfortably, but Lakshya Sen's recurring Lai problem deepened: three losses in four meetings, three of them this year alone. Sen's mental edge over the Canadian, built at the All England, appears to have flipped decisively.
Key Takeaways
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (4th seeds) beat Malaysia's Junaidi Arif/Kang Khai Xing 21-11, 21-16 to reach the pre-quarterfinals.
Kidambi Srikanth defeated Chi Yu Jen (Chinese Taipei) 21-18, 21-15 in 35 minutes .
Lakshya Sen lost to Canada's Victor Lai 14-21, 7-21 — his third defeat to Lai in 2025 .
Tanvi Sharma (World No.
20) and the Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto pair also advanced.
Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde , Devika Sihag , and Kiran George exited in the Round of 32.
The tournament carries a prize purse of USD 1,250,000 and is being held at the Shenzhen Arena .
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with men's singles veteran Kidambi Srikanth, kept India's campaign alive at the BWF China Masters 2025 in Shenzhen on Wednesday, 2 September, even as Lakshya Sen suffered an early exit in the Round of 32 at the Shenzhen Arena. The day delivered a mixed bag for the Indian contingent, with wins across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles offset by a few notable setbacks.
Srikanth Storms Through in Men's Singles
Former World Championship runner-up Kidambi Srikanth opened his campaign with a composed 21-18, 21-15 win over Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei in just 35 minutes on Court 2. Srikanth raced to a dominant 7-1 lead in the first game and stretched it to 12-3 before Chi pulled back to 13-8. The Indian held firm to close out the opener. In the second game, Chi briefly led 8-6, but Srikanth reeled off four consecutive points to regain control, eventually sealing the match at 16-11 and then 21-15.
Satwik-Chirag Cruise Into Pre-Quarterfinals
Fourth seeds Rankireddy and Shetty were equally clinical, dispatching the Malaysian pair of Junaidi Arif and Kang Khai Xing 21-11, 21-16 in 40 minutes on Court 1. The Indian duo's dominance throughout was a statement of intent ahead of the knockout rounds in the USD 1,250,000 event.
Sen's Campaign Ends Early Against Victor Lai
Lakshya Sen's China Masters ended in disappointment as he fell to Canada's Victor Lai — the 2026 World Championships bronze medallist — 14-21, 7-21 in straight games. This was Sen's third loss to Lai in four career meetings, and Lai's third win over Sen this year alone. The Canadian had previously beaten Sen at the Thomas Cup and in the Round of 16 of the China Open in July. Sen's sole win over Lai came in a hard-fought All England Open semifinal in March, where he prevailed 21-16, 18-21, 21-15.
Mixed Results in Other Categories
World No. 20 Tanvi Sharma advanced in women's singles, beating Amalie Schulz of Denmark 21-16, 21-17 in 31 minutes. In the mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto were emphatic, routing Thailand's Tonkid Saeheng and Tonrug Saeheng 21-8, 21-9 in just 24 minutes. However, Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde exited after a 21-16, 21-18 defeat to Chinese Taipei's Wu Guan Xun and Lee Chia Hsin. In women's singles, Devika Sihag lost to Bulgaria's Kaloyana Nalbantova 21-18, 21-15.
Other Men's Singles Results
Raunak Chauhan began his campaign with a 21-15, 21-18 straight-games win over China's Liu Yu Xuan. Saneeth Dayanand produced a comeback victory over third seed Dong Tian Yao of China, winning 9-21, 21-18, 21-15. Kiran George, however, fell to Japan's Shogo Ogawa in three games, 15-21, 23-21, 10-21. India's fortunes in the rounds ahead will hinge on Satwik-Chirag's draw and whether Srikanth can maintain his level against stiffer opposition in the pre-quarterfinals.
Point of View
7-21 capitulation to Lai is more than a bad day — it is a pattern that now demands scrutiny. Three losses to the same opponent in a single year, with the margins worsening each time, points to a tactical and perhaps psychological gap that Sen's camp has not yet closed. Meanwhile, the Satwik-Chirag machine rolls on, but their real test at this level will come in the quarters and beyond, not against Malaysian qualifiers. India's singles depth — beyond Srikanth, who is past his peak — remains the structural question that one good day in Shenzhen cannot answer.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Satwik and Chirag win at the BWF China Masters 2025?
Yes, fourth seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty beat Malaysia's Junaidi Arif and Kang Khai Xing 21-11, 21-16 in 40 minutes to reach the pre-quarterfinals at the Shenzhen Arena on 2 September.
Why did Lakshya Sen lose at the China Masters 2025?
Lakshya Sen lost to Canada's Victor Lai 14-21, 7-21 in straight games in the Round of 32. It was Sen's third defeat to Lai in 2025, following earlier losses at the Thomas Cup and the China Open in July.
How did Kidambi Srikanth perform at the China Masters?
Kidambi Srikanth defeated Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei 21-18, 21-15 in 35 minutes to advance to the pre-quarterfinals. The former World Championship runner-up was dominant throughout, leading 12-3 at one stage in the first game.
Which Indian players advanced to the pre-quarterfinals at the China Masters 2025?
Kidambi Srikanth (men's singles), Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (men's doubles), Tanvi Sharma (women's singles), and Dhruv Kapila with Tanisha Crasto (mixed doubles) all advanced to the pre-quarterfinals.
What is the prize money for the BWF China Masters 2025?
The BWF China Masters 2025 carries a total prize purse of USD 1,250,000 and is being held at the Shenzhen Arena in Shenzhen, China.
