Hong Kong: India’s top men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty continued their fine run of form, storming into the semifinals of the Hong Kong Open Super 500 badminton tournament with a hard-fought win on Friday.
Fresh from their bronze medal finish at the BWF World Championships, the eighth-seeded duo overcame Malaysia’s Arif Junaidi and Roy King Yap in a thrilling contest, clinching the match 21-14, 20-22, 21-16 in 64 minutes.
The Indians started steadily, breaking away at 12-all in the opening game before dominating with sharp smashes and quick net play. They closed out the game by reeling off five consecutive points.
However, the Malaysian pair fought back strongly in the second game, matching the Indians’ speed and court coverage. Despite Satwik and Chirag saving a game point at 20-all, the Malaysians held their nerve to force a decider.
In the final game, the world No. 9 pair tightened their defense and regained control, never allowing their rivals a chance to build momentum. Their attacking precision ensured a place in the semifinals of the USD 500,000 tournament.
Satwik and Chirag had earlier survived a scare in the pre-quarterfinals, edging past Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul in a close three-game battle. With their current form, the Indian duo remain strong contenders for the title.
