Satwik-Chirag hold nerve, storm into China Open quarters

Changzhou (China), Jul 24 (PTI) — India's premier men's doubles badminton duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, progressed to the quarterfinals of the prestigious China Open Super 1000 tournament with a straight-game win over Indonesia's Leo Rolly Carnando and Bagas Maulana. The match, held on Thursday, saw them overcoming the eighth-seeded Indonesian pair with scores of 21-19, 21-19.

Previously ranked world number one, the Indian pair showcased outstanding tactical discipline and composure to prevail in a closely-contested clash. "The match was quite topsy-turvy, with momentum swinging back and forth continuously. Neither side managed to score a considerable lead. However, by the time it was 16-something, we managed a breakthrough by gaining a lead of 3–4 consecutive points, which helped us secure the first game," commented Chirag Shetty.

Chirag added, "Entering the second game, we perhaps needed to remain a bit calmer. Not necessarily safer, just calmer, to restrict their play. The Indonesians played exceptionally well, especially with their service receives. Overall, we're pleased to have secured the win."

Unfortunately, it was the end of the competition for HS Prannoy, who was ousted after a hard-fought 21-18, 15-21, 8-21 defeat by the sixth seed, Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei, during a gripping 65-minute men's singles second-round match.

Satwik and Chirag were put to the test throughout the match. The opening game saw the Indonesians leading at 8-6 and later at 14-12, although the Indians maintained close proximity. From 14-16 down, the Indian pair impressively won five consecutive points to take a significant lead at 19-16, eventually closing out the initial game.

The second game mirrored the first, with the Indonesian duo initially taking a 14-10 advantage. However, the Indian team staged a comeback, leveling at 18-18 before displaying nerves of steel to close the match.

"With each passing day, our performance seems to improve, though there's still much ground to cover before we reach our peak. Despite not being at our best, I'm satisfied with our gameplay," Chirag stated. "Our tournament participation has been sparse over the past year, which is partly why we've decided to compete in Macau next."

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