China Masters: Sat-Chi dominate in the Shenzhen semis

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (left) and Chirag Shetty during their semi-final clash on Saturday. Pic/AFP

India's star men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty produced a tactically astute performance to overcome Malaysia's Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong in three games to book their third China Masters final here on Saturday.

World No. 5 Satwik and Chirag, who finished runners-up at the 2023 and 2025 editions, recovered from a second-game lapse to prevail 21-15, 18-21, 21-11 over the World No. 29 Malaysians.

"We were out for quite some time [due to Satwik's shoulder injury]. So to be in the finals in just our second tournament back after the break, feels really good. It feels special," said Chirag.

The Asian Games champions will face the winner of the other semi-final between Malaysia's Tee Kai Wun and Yap Roy King and China''s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu in the summit clash.

In the opening game, Satwik and Chirag fell 0-5 behind but responded with seven straight points, including a gruelling 34-shot rally, to move ahead 7-5. Errors from the Malaysians along with Satwik's angled smashes helped the Indians gain an 18-15 lead. After a 54-shot rally, the Malaysians sent the shuttle long before another miscued shot from Nur handed the Indians five game points, which they converted on the second opportunity.

After the change of sides, the Malaysians raced to a 4-0 lead, but Satwik and Chirag recovered swiftly, using a fine flick serve to draw level at 5-5. The two pairs continued to fight tooth and nail, trading points all the way to 18-18 before the Malaysians edged ahead and forced a decider.

In the third game, Satwik and Chirag opened up a 7-3 lead, with the latter finding gaps in the Malaysian defence. Satwik then unleashed a brutal smash at Nur to make it 13-6, and it was one-way traffic thereafter with Chirag dispatching a flick serve to seal the win.

Zero
No of times Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have lost to Tan Wee Kiong and Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub in three meetings so far

Three
No of finals Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have reached this year

Three
No of times Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have reached the China Masters final (2023, 2025, 2026)

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