Star Indian men’s doubles shuttlers Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty on Saturday, December 20, lost to the Chinese pair of Liang Wei Kang and Wang Chang in a three-game thriller in the semifinals
of the BWF World Tour Finals, as their 19-month-long title drought continued.
Satwik-Chirag claimed the first game but were unable to maintain their momentum, losing the semi-final 21-10, 17-21, 13-21 in a one-hour-and-three-minute thriller.
Satwik and Chirag had defeated their opponents in the group stage, but the Chinese pair turned the tables on them when it mattered the most.
Satwik-Chirag had gone unbeaten in the group stage of the season-ending tournament, but Saturday’s loss ended their bid to become the first Indian men’s pair to reach the final of the prestigious event.
Satwik-Chirag, though, became the first Indian men’s pair to reach the semifinals of the season-ending event.
The two pairs traded the first 10 points, with Satwik-Chirag focusing on Liang. Calm and composed, the Indians took control to lead 9–6 and a powerful smash from Chirag extended their advantage to four points at the break.
With Satwik stepping up to cover the third shot while serving to Liang, he and Chirag dominated the rallies. An eight-point streak soon gave them a commanding 10-point lead.
Satwik-Chirag sealed the first game at the first chance as the Chinese found the net again.
A strong serve and accurate third shots helped the Chinese pair take a 6–3 lead after the change of ends, capitalising on a few unforced errors from Satwik-Chirag. A Chirag smash and a wide shot from China levelled the score at 7–all, but the home favourites pulled ahead 9–7 before Liang’s short service error gave India an opportunity.
The Chinese maintained a two-point cushion at the interval.
As play resumed, Chirag seized a weak net return and smashed a sharp cross-court shot to tie the score at 11–all. But a return error and a brief moment of hesitation handed China two quick points.
The Chinese pair stayed two points ahead at 17–15, though Chirag’s tactical awareness kept India breathing down their necks at 17–19.
A between-the-legs attempt from Satwik sailed long, handing China three game points. The home pair forced a decider with a soft tap at the net from Liang.
Wang Chang came out blazing in the third game, with Liang unleashing powerful smashes as China surged to a 6–1 lead. Satwik-Chirag were forced into awkward lifts and struggled to read the flick serves, falling behind 2–10.
Satwik and Chirag seemed a step late on their shots, facing a steep challenge at the break. Resuming at 2–11, their struggles continued as they fell to 2–14.
Satwik-Chirag fought back to 11–19, but a Satwik lift sailed long. Liang followed with two unforced errors, yet Chirag’s net shot soon after ended their brief resurgence.
