Did China Masters See Sindhu and Satwik-Chirag Advance to Quarters?

Shenzhen, Sep 18 (NationPress) P. V. Sindhu along with the men’s doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of the China Masters Super 750 tournament on Thursday, achieving victories in straight games.

Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, took only 41 minutes to defeat world No. 6 Pornpawee Chochuwong from Thailand with scores of 21-15, 21-15. This victory not only secured her spot in the last eight but also equaled her head-to-head record against the Thai player to 6-5.

“I am pleased with the win, and it was crucial for me to remain alert and give my full effort from the start,” Sindhu mentioned after her match. “She (Chochuwong) is a formidable player. I faced her at the Indonesia Open, and it was a challenging match back then. After clinching the first game, I was more focused in the second. The points were tightly contested, so staying close to her was essential because every point matters. I’m glad that I came out on top and I gave it my all.”

After a disappointing first-round elimination at the Hong Kong Open last week, Sindhu was determined to shine in Shenzhen. “It’s beneficial to win the first game and wrap it up in the second. Winning straight always boosts your confidence,” she added. “However, one must be ready for lengthy matches and ensure quick footwork.”

She also addressed the challenge of the venue’s strong air-conditioning drift: “There’s always some wind at every tournament, but controlling it is vital. Yet, it can be quite difficult at times.”

Sindhu is currently training under India’s women’s singles coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, who previously coached Indonesia’s men’s team. She acknowledged the positive impact of their collaboration on her recent performance. “Our working relationship is very good. He is an excellent coach. We understood from the beginning that it would take time, and we figured out what needed to be done and changed. He is committed as a coach, and I also have my responsibilities as an athlete.”

Next, Sindhu faces the top-ranked player An Se Young, who has previously won all their encounters, six of which were in straight games.

In men’s doubles, the world No. 3 duo Satwik and Chirag convincingly defeated Chinese Taipei’s Wang Chi-lin and Chiu Hsiang-chieh with scores of 21-13, 21-12 in just 33 minutes, setting up a quarterfinal match against local players Ren Xiang Yu and Xie Haonan.

“It was a fantastic win,” Chirag reflected. “Wang Chunlin is a highly experienced player with two Olympic golds, making him a tough opponent. However, we are thrilled to have secured a comfortable victory this time. They had pushed us to three games last week in Hong Kong, but we completed our job in two games in under 35 minutes. Confidence was key this time.”

Satwik added that their approach was sharper. “When we entered the Hong Kong Open after the World Championship, the first round was challenging. If we had lost the first game yesterday, it might have gone to three games. However, after yesterday’s win, we adapted better to the situation. We had made some unnecessary errors in the Hong Kong Open’s second game. Today, we focused on the first four strokes — service, receiving, service, receiving — and then waited to see if they could mount a rally.”

“Confidence has definitely been crucial,” Chirag affirmed. “We are gradually progressing towards our goals. It’s been some time, but we are slowly regaining our confidence.”

Looking ahead to their next match against the Chinese team, Satwik humorously noted their recent encounters. “In the Hong Kong Open, we faced left-right match-ups in the first round, then lefty-righty in the second round, and again in the quarter-finals and semis. Here, it’s been the same as well. We’ve faced so many lefty-righties. Chinese pairs are known for their excellent strokes, and the local crowd will be supportive. However, we enjoy competing against Chinese players; we have that rivalry.”

Shenzhen holds a special significance for the duo. “This city is unique for us. We aimed to make this time special. We were runners-up in the semi-finals before, but this time we aspire to reach the podium again — but not just as runners-up.”