Satwik and Chirag Advance to Semifinals; Srikanth Exits in Quarterfinals

In an exciting turn of events at the China Masters, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty showcased their resilience by reaching the semifinals after a thrilling match against Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen. Meanwhile, former world number one Kidambi Srikanth's journey ended in the quarterfinals against Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu. The tournament has seen remarkable performances, including Srikanth's upset victory over Canadian star Victor Lai. Discover more about the matches and the players' journeys in this detailed report.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 4, 2026, 19:33 IST

Satwik-Chirag Reach Semifinals, Srikanth Eliminated

In an impressive display of skill, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made a remarkable comeback to secure their spot in the semifinals of the China Masters. They triumphed over Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen with scores of 21-13, 16-21, 21-18 during a challenging quarterfinal match held in Shenzhen on Friday. The Indian pair started strong, quickly establishing a 15-5 lead in the first game, which they won comfortably. However, the Danish duo fought back in the second game, turning a one-point deficit into a five-point lead by winning seven of the last eight points, forcing a decisive third game. In the final game, despite trailing 17-15, Satwik and Chirag elevated their performance, clinching six of the last seven points to win the match and advance to the semifinals.

Srikanth's Journey Ends in Quarterfinals

On the other hand, former world number one Kidambi Srikanth's run at the China Masters concluded in the quarterfinals. He faced a defeat against Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu, with scores of 16-21, 16-21. Although Srikanth displayed moments of brilliance in both games, he couldn't maintain his momentum as Lee kept his composure to secure victory in straight sets.

Path to the Quarterfinals

Earlier in the tournament, both Srikanth and the dynamic men's doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty showcased outstanding performances to reach the quarterfinals of the China Masters Super 750. Srikanth achieved a remarkable upset against Canadian World No. 9 and recent World Championship bronze medalist Victor Lai, winning with scores of 21-18, 21-19. In men's doubles, the former World No. 1 pair of Satwik and Chirag overcame France's Toma Junior Popov and Christo Popov with scores of 21-17, 22-24, 21-9. Meanwhile, world No. 13 Lakshya faced a tough challenge, losing 21-14, 21-7 to Canada's Victor Lai in a match that lasted 38 minutes, marking another inconsistent performance for Lakshya this season.