Shenzhen, Sept 7:
India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty staged a remarkable comeback to defeat China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 and clinch their maiden China Masters Super 750 title on Sunday.
The victory, achieved in 70 minutes at the Shenzhen Arena, was particularly significant for the Indian pair, who had finished runners-up in the 2023 and 2025 editions. They became the first Indian men’s doubles pair to win the prestigious China Masters title.
The world No. 5 Indians were thoroughly outplayed in the opening game as the Chinese combination dictated the pace with sharp returns, clever net play and relentless attacking. Satwik and Chirag struggled to impose their powerful game and fell behind early before conceding the game 11-21.
The Indians, however, made crucial tactical adjustments in the second game. Chirag began intercepting the shuttle earlier at the net while Satwik used his power from the rear court to push the Chinese pair deeper. Their defence also improved, allowing them to sustain longer rallies and create openings for attacks.
Satwik and Chirag raced to a substantial lead and levelled the contest at 21-13, forcing a deciding game.
The decider was closely fought, with He and Ren making a fast start and holding a narrow advantage for much of the game. The Indians remained patient, however, and continued to apply pressure through a combination of powerful smashes, variations and controlled net play.
With the Chinese pair leading 17-16, Satwik and Chirag produced a decisive five-point burst to turn the contest around and close out the match 21-17.
The triumph marked their second BWF World Tour title of the season after their Singapore Open Super 750 victory in May. It was also their 10th BWF World Tour title overall.
The victory comes at an important stage of the season, with Satwik and Chirag preparing to defend their Asian Games gold medal in Japan from September 19. The China Masters success provides the pair with a major confidence boost ahead of the continental competition.