Changzhou, China – July 27, 2025 – India’s hopes at the China Open Super 1000 badminton tournament came to an end on Saturday as the top-ranked men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty bowed out in the semifinals, losing to familiar rivals Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia. The defeat marks a consistent pattern of deep runs but elusive titles for the Indian duo this season, highlighting areas for tactical refinement.
Satwik-Chirag’s Semifinal Heartbreak
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who have been a beacon of consistency for Indian badminton, faced a tough challenge against the Malaysian second seeds Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. In a match lasting 42 minutes, the Indian pair went down in straight games with a scoreline of 13-21, 17-21. This loss continues their struggle against the reigning 2022 World Champions and two-time Olympic bronze medallists, with the head-to-head record now heavily favoring the Malaysians (11-3 in 14 encounters).
Despite a spirited fight in the second game, where they managed to level the scores at 16-16 after trailing, Satwik and Chirag were unable to overcome the relentless pressure and solid defense of their opponents. Chirag Shetty later admitted that they “were not playing the right game” and were “too late to realise” their tactical errors.
A Season of Consistent Semifinal Finishes
This semifinal exit at the China Open is the fourth time this season that Satwik and Chirag have made it to the last four of a major tournament, having previously reached the semifinals of the India Open, Singapore Open, and Malaysia Open. While their consistent presence in the latter stages of Super 1000 events underscores their status as top contenders, the inability to convert these deep runs into titles remains a challenge they aim to address. Injuries and personal issues have also played a role in disrupting their rhythm this year, as acknowledged by Satwiksairaj Rankireddy.
India’s Overall Campaign
The China Open 2025 saw other Indian shuttlers making their mark, though none could progress to the finals.
- Women’s Singles: The highlight in women’s singles was the impressive run of 17-year-old Unnati Hooda, who stunned two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu in the Round of 16. However, Hooda’s valiant campaign ended in the quarterfinals, where she was defeated by Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi.
- Men’s Singles: India’s men’s singles challenge concluded early, with Lakshya Sen, a Paris 2024 semi-finalist, exiting in the opening round, and HS Prannoy falling in the Round of 16.
With the China Open campaign concluded, Indian shuttlers will now turn their attention to upcoming tournaments, including the Macau Open, as they continue to fine-tune their form ahead of the crucial BWF World Championships in Paris from August 25 to 31.
