Satwik-Chirag Create History! China Masters Champions; Defeat Home Pair in a Thrilling Three-Game Battle
Shenzhen (China)
India’s star badminton duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty scripted history by winning the China Masters Super 750 badminton tournament. After losing the opening game, the Indian pair staged a stunning comeback to defeat China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 in a fiercely contested final that lasted 1 hour and 10 minutes. With this impressive victory, Satwik-Chirag clinched the prestigious China Masters title and secured their second major title of the new year.
Gritty Comeback After Losing the First Game
The Chinese pair made a blistering start to the match, racing to a 5-0 lead with their aggressive and fast-paced play. The Indian duo struggled to control the rallies early on, while service errors from Chirag further hurt their chances. As a result, they lost the opening game 11-21.
However, Satwik and Chirag changed their strategy in the second game and improved their defensive play. Satwik’s clever use of the flick serve, along with their victory in a marathon 45-shot rally, helped India dominate the game 21-13 and level the match at 1-1.
Nail-Biting Thriller in the Decider
The Chinese pair once again started strongly in the deciding game, taking an early 4-0 lead and putting pressure on the Indians. But Satwik and Chirag remained composed, gradually closing the gap and bringing the score level at 7-7.
At one stage, China led 15-13, but the Indian duo fought back to make it 16-16. In the crucial final moments, the Chinese players made several unforced errors as their shots found the net. Satwik and Chirag capitalized on the opportunity to win the deciding game 21-17 and seal the historic title.
After finishing runners-up in 2023 and 2025, the Indian pair finally ended their wait for a China Masters crown.
Confidence Boost Ahead of the Asian Games
Speaking after their historic triumph, Satwiksairaj said, “We have returned to the court after recovering from injuries, so this title has doubled our confidence. The strategy we planned worked perfectly.”
Chirag Shetty added, “Winning this title before heading into the Asian Games to defend our gold medal is a reward for all the hard work we have put in. We will now take a short break and then return to training at full strength.”
