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Satwik-Chirag delivered a composed and confident performance to defeat Malaysia’s Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi in straight games, 21-18, 21-14.
Satwik-Chirag duo in action (BWF Media)
India’s top men’s doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty marched into the semifinals of the China Open Super 1000 on Friday, but rising star Unnati Hooda’s dream journey came to a halt in the quarterfinals.
Satwik-Chirag Maintain Dominance
The reigning Asian Games gold medallists produced a commanding performance to defeat Malaysia’s Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi 21-18, 21-14 in just 40 minutes. The win extended their head-to-head lead against the Malaysian pair to 7-3.
Satwik and Chirag will now face the world No. 2 pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik—also from Malaysia—in the semifinals, setting up a much-anticipated clash between two of the world’s best men’s doubles teams.
Hooda Bows Out Against Yamaguchi
On the singles side, 17-year-old Unnati Hooda’s inspiring run came to an end as she lost 16-21, 12-21 to world No. 4 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in a 33-minute women’s singles quarterfinal.
Hooda, who had stunned two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu the day before, showed flashes of resistance but couldn’t match Yamaguchi’s relentless pace and precision.
In the opening game, Hooda managed to stay level with the Japanese star in the early stages but faltered mid-game, allowing Yamaguchi to take control with five consecutive points. Despite Hooda’s best effort—winning three points in a row—Yamaguchi claimed the game 21-16.
The second game followed a similar pattern. Hooda showed fight with a four-point streak but Yamaguchi responded with a six-point surge of her own, sealing the game 21-12. The Japanese shuttler ultimately won 42 of the 70 points played in the match.
End of India’s Singles Challenge
Hooda’s exit marked the end of India’s singles campaign at the China Open. However, her impressive win over Sindhu in the Round of 16—21-16, 19-21, 21-13—remains a career-defining moment and a testament to her rising potential.
With Satwik and Chirag still in the hunt, India’s hopes now rest on the seasoned doubles pair as they aim for a spot in the final of the prestigious Super 1000 event.
(with PTI inputs)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
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