Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty finally broke their China Masters jinx in spectacular fashion, becoming the first Indian men's doubles pair to
win the prestigious Super 750 title after defeating China's He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 in Shenzhen on Sunday.
The victory was particularly significant given the Indians' history at the tournament. This was their third China Masters final after finishing runners-up in 2023 and 2025. Having twice come agonisingly close, Satwik and Chirag finally climbed the top step of the podium in their third attempt.
The final initially appeared to be heading China's way. He and Ren, backed by a vocal home crowd, dictated the opening exchanges and took the first game 21-11. The Indian pair, however, responded with the resilience that has become a defining feature of their partnership.
Satwik and Chirag raised their intensity in the second game, finding greater control in the rallies and attacking with more conviction. They levelled the contest at 21-13 before taking the momentum into the decider.
The third game was a tense battle, with neither pair able to establish a decisive advantage. The Chinese combination led 17-16 late in the contest, but the Indians produced their best badminton when it mattered most. They won five consecutive points to close out the match in one hour and 10 minutes.
The triumph also adds another significant chapter to what has been a strong 2026 season for the former world No. 1 pair. Satwik and Chirag had already won the Singapore Open Super 750 in May, ending a two-year wait for a World Tour title. They now have two Super 750 titles this season.
The China Masters crown also arrives at an important juncture. With the Asian Games approaching later this month, the comeback victory against a strong Chinese pair gives India's leading men's doubles combination another major boost.
