SHENZHEN, September 6: India’s star men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty created history on Sunday by winning their maiden China Masters title, defeating China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu in a thrilling three-game final.
The Indian pair recovered from a difficult opening game to seal an 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 victory in a contest lasting 70 minutes.
Satwik-Chirag Fight Back After Losing Opening Game
The Chinese pair dominated the early stages of the final and took the opening game 21-11, putting Satwik and Chirag under immediate pressure.
But the Indians responded strongly in the second game.
Increasing their attacking intensity and reducing errors, Satwik-Chirag seized control to take the second game 21-13 and force a deciding third game.
Indians Hold Nerve in Decider
The deciding game remained closely contested as both pairs battled for control.
Satwik and Chirag stayed composed during the crucial closing stages and eventually secured the third game 21-17, completing a memorable comeback in Shenzhen.
Third Final Finally Brings China Masters Crown
The triumph was particularly significant because Satwik and Chirag had previously reached the China Masters final in 2023 and 2025, only to finish runners-up on both occasions.
Their third appearance in the title clash finally ended that run of near misses.
The victory also made them the first Indian men’s doubles pair to win the China Masters title.
Perfect Record Against He-Ren Continues
Sunday’s win extended Satwik and Chirag’s unbeaten head-to-head record against He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu to 3-0.
The Chinese combination had the advantage of playing in front of a home crowd, but the Indians’ comeback proved decisive after the opening-game setback.
Second Title of 2026 Season
The China Masters crown is Satwik and Chirag’s second BWF World Tour title of the 2026 season.
They had earlier won the Singapore Open Super 750, while also reaching the final of the Thailand Open Super 500.
The China Masters victory represents their 10th BWF World Tour title overall, further strengthening their position among the world’s leading men’s doubles combinations.
Major Boost Ahead of Asian Games
The title comes at an important stage of the season as the Indian pair continue preparations for major international competitions, including the Asian Games.
Their ability to recover from a one-game deficit against a strong Chinese pair will provide another confidence boost as they pursue further international success.
For Satwik and Chirag, Sunday’s triumph finally converts years of consistency at the China Masters into the title that had previously eluded them.
source – BWF / NDTV Profit
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