Hangzhou: In a thrilling start to their BWF World Tour Finals campaign in Hangzhou, China, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, India's top-ranked men's doubles pair, avenged their recent loss in the Hong Kong Open final by defeating China's Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang. The third-seeded Indian duo showcased remarkable resilience and skill to overcome the Olympic silver medalists in a hard-fought Group B match.
The match, which lasted an hour, saw Satwik-Chirag triumph with a score of 12-21, 22-20, 21-14. This victory marks the first time an Indian men's doubles pair has won a match at the World Tour Finals. After a shaky start in the first game, where they struggled to counter the Chinese pair's aggressive smashes and precise placements, Satwik and Chirag found their rhythm in the second game. They saved a match point to win the second game 22-20 and force a decider.
The final game saw Satwik-Chirag dominate with aggressive attacking shots, sealing the match with a 21-14 victory. This win improves their head-to-head record against Liang and Wang, though the Chinese pair still hold an edge with seven wins in eleven meetings.
Entering the tournament, Satwik and Chirag find themselves in a challenging "group of death" alongside Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia, and Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri of Indonesia. With three of the four pairs having won medals at Grade 1 events in the past 18 months, the competition for a spot in the semi-finals is fierce.
The World Tour Finals have historically been a tough event for Indian badminton players. Only PV Sindhu has claimed a title, winning the women's singles in 2018. A men's doubles title remains elusive, and should Satwik-Chirag reach the final, they would only be the fourth Indian entry ever to do so across all disciplines.
This victory against Liang and Wang is particularly significant, considering the Chinese pair's recent dominance, including their win in the Hong Kong Open final. Satwik and Chirag's ability to maintain composure and adapt their tactics throughout the match proved crucial to their success. Satwik-Chirag are now in a joint top position in Group A alongside Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi-yik of Malaysia.
