Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty win China Masters Super 750 title

Indian men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, right, and Chirag Shetty clinch the China Masters Super 750 title. (PTI Photo)

As Chirag Shetty’s winning shot landed in the middle of the court, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy let himself go — breaking into his trademark single-leg dance, arms swinging and a broad smile lighting up his face. A delighted Chirag flung his T-shirt into the stands. Sunday, it turned out, needed to see them fall behind before it could watch them fly. The Indian duo fought back to beat China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 in a pulsating final in Shenzhen. For a pair that has spent most of the last four years battling injuries as much as they did opponents, the title was more than just another trophy. It was a statement — and perhaps a timely reminder that the old Satwik-Chirag swagger is returning.

‘We’ll go all guns blazing’

Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty on Sunday became the first Indian shuttlers to win the China Masters BWF Super 750 title, and the timing could hardly have been better. With the Asian Games title defence looming later this month, the China Masters crown gives the pair exactly what they needed: belief, momentum and proof that the long road back from injury is beginning to lead somewhere familiar. “Obviously, going into the Asian Games, winning a title definitely gives a huge boost. We’ll go back home, push our- selves to the limit, train for the next 10 days and go all guns blazing at the Asian Games. We want to go out there and have some fun,” Chirag said later. Playing their third final at this tour- nament, the Indians were far from their best at the start. They were outplayed in the opening game, unable to match the pace and aggression of the Chinese pair. But just as they have done so often in their partnership, they found a way back. Even in the decider, they were staring at trou- ble at 3-7. But then came the shift. The Indians began slowing the rallies down, keeping the shuttle below the tape and refusing to allow the Chinese to un- leash their explosive attacking game. Chirag moved closer to the net, taking control of the forecourt, while Satwik found greater rhythm from the back. The comeback was on. From 16-17, the Indians produced a five-point burst that changed the complexion of the final and left the home pair with no answer.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, right, and Chirag Shetty (PTI Photo)

It was a finish that had been written into their script long before Sunday. “Playing here is always good. We have al- ways played here coming back from inju- ry,” a breathless Satwik later said. “I think in 2024, after the Olympics, we played here and reached the semifinals. Then last year, we played the final, though we weren’t in very good shape. I think this is also, after coming back from injury, a tournament that has given us a lot of con- fidence,” he explained. It was also a victory that vindicated the faith of their coach Kim Tan Her, who had felt Satwik was beginning to redis- cover his best after his latest injury layoff. The first game, however, gave little in- dication of what was to follow. The Indi- ans lost 11-21, struggling to impose them- selves and repeatedly allowing the Chi- nese to dictate the pace.

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Kim knew something had to change. “I told them to control the net and asked Chirag to stay up front and take control of the rallies. The Chinese are playing real- ly well, so we needed to counter that by locking one player at the front. It’s a great victory for them, especially with the Asian Games coming,” Kim told TOI. The message was simple: take away the Chinese attack before it gathers mo- mentum. Chirag admitted they had played into the hands of their opponents in the opening game. “I think we were not playing the right strokes. We were play- ing a style which favoured them. And when we play a style which favours them, they come all guns blazing,” he said. The China Masters, which had twice seen the Indians leave without the title — semifinalists in 2024 and runners-up last year — had finally been conquered.

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