Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty Reach China Masters Final Again

Indian badminton stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have advanced to the China Masters final after a hard-fought semifinal victory over Malaysia's Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong. This marks their third appearance in the final, where they aim to secure their first title in this prestigious tournament. The duo's journey has been impressive, having previously finished as runners-up in 2023 and 2025. As they prepare for the final, they are also on the hunt for their 10th career BWF World Tour title. Will they finally clinch the elusive China Masters title?

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 5, 2026, 21:23 IST

Indian Duo Advances to Final

In a thrilling semifinal match, Indian men's doubles stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty displayed remarkable composure and strategy to defeat Malaysia's Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong. The match, held in Shenzhen, lasted for one hour and five minutes, with the world No. 5 Indian pair winning 21-15, 18-21, 21-11. This victory marks their third appearance in the China Masters final.

The Indian duo, who were runners-up in the 2023 and 2025 editions, faced a setback in the second game but dominated the third. They are now set to compete against either the Malaysian pair of Kai Wun Tee/Roy King Yap or the Chinese duo of He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu in the final. Notably, no Indian player has ever won this tournament since its inception in 2005.

Match Highlights

A Comeback in the Opener

The Malaysian team started strong, taking a 5-0 lead in the first game. However, Satwiksairaj and Chirag quickly turned the tide, scoring seven consecutive points to take control. They led 11-9 at the mid-game interval and maintained their advantage, ultimately winning the first game.

Malaysians Force a Decider

In the second game, the Malaysians again surged ahead with a 4-0 start. The Indian pair responded, taking a brief lead at 10-8. The game remained tightly contested, with the score tied at 18-all before the Malaysians clinched three consecutive points to win the game.

Dominant Third Game Performance

Determined not to repeat their slow start, Satwik and Chirag dominated the third game from the outset, leading 11-4 at the mid-game interval. They continued to control the match, closing it out decisively to secure their place in the final.

Chasing Milestones

The upcoming final will be Satwik and Chirag's third BWF World Tour final of 2026. Earlier this year, they finished as runners-up at the Thailand Open and later claimed victory at the Singapore Open. The Indian pair will also be aiming for their 10th career BWF World Tour title in the final.