The dream of winning a title for India's star men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, remained unfulfilled once again. They suffered a 19-21, 15-21 defeat in a 45-minute match against a Korean pair in the final of the China Masters Super 750 badminton tournament.
SPORTS NEWS: India's star men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, missed out on a major title once again. In the final of the China Masters Super 750 badminton tournament, they suffered a straight-sets defeat against the world's number-1 Korean pair, Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae. The match lasted 45 minutes, with the Indian pair being defeated 19-21, 15-21.
This marks the second consecutive occasion where the Satwik-Chirag pair reached the final but failed to secure the title. They had faced a similar defeat just a week prior.
Satwik-Chirag's Heartbreak for the Second Time in a Row
In the first game, the Indian pair started brilliantly, building a b 14-7 lead. With aggressive smashes and precise shots at the net, it seemed Satwik-Chirag would easily claim the first game. However, the Korean pair mounted a comeback with excellent defense and patient play. As a result, the Indian pair lost their rhythm and conceded the first game 19-21.
The second game also began in favor of the Indians. Chirag-Satwik established a 3-2 lead, followed by 8-6. However, the Korean pair quickly drew level and took an 11-10 lead by the break. Following this, the Indian players committed a series of unforced errors. Specifically, two shots by Chirag going wide and a crucial error by Satwik handed the Korean players five consecutive match points. Ultimately, Kim and Seo wasted no time in clinching the title.
The Satwik-Chirag pair, who won a gold medal at the Asian Games, has been in excellent form this season. They hadn't dropped a single game throughout the week leading up to this tournament. After securing a bronze medal at the World Championships and finishing as runners-up at the Hong Kong Open, there were high hopes that the China Masters would end their title drought. However, they faced defeat once again.
Remarkable Success of the Korean Pair
The pair of Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae has been consistently performing brilliantly this current season. After playing with different partners, both players reunited in 2025, and this was their ninth final together. Prior to this, they had won six titles, including the World Championship (Paris) gold, All England Open, and Indonesia Open Super 1000 titles. They are regarded as one of the best and most balanced pairs in contemporary badminton.
This final was anticipated as a clash between the world's best attack (India) and the best defense (Korea). Kim and Seo demonstrated excellent patience, technique, and precision to overcome the Indian pair.
