India’s leading men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, confirmed their place in the semifinals of the China Open Super 1000 with a commanding straight-games victory today. The duo beat Malaysia’s Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi 21‑18, 21‑14 in approximately 40 minutes, showcasing superior coordination and aggressive play throughout.
This win improves Satwik and Chirag’s head‑to‑head record against the Malaysian duo to seven wins out of ten encounters. Next, the Indian pair will face world number two Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia in what promises to be a high-stakes semifinal clash. For Satwik-Chirag, this marks at least their fourth semifinal appearance of the year.
Meanwhile, India’s youngest hope in women’s singles, 17‑year‑old Unnati Hooda, saw her dream run at the tournament end in the quarterfinals. She suffered a straight‑games 16‑21, 12‑21 loss to world number four Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in just 33 minutes. Unnati had arrived in the quarters after stunning two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu in a thrilling pre-quarterfinal match.
Unnati had kept pace with Yamaguchi early in the first game, but a decisive five-point run by the Japanese turned the tables. A similar pattern unfolded in the second game when Yamaguchi gathered momentum to close out the match with six straight points. Yamaguchi won 42 out of the 70 total points, overpowering the young Indian’s fearless yet inconsistent effort.
Unnati’s campaign had been a breakthrough for Indian badminton. In the round of 16, she edged out Sindhu 21‑19, 19‑21, 21‑13 in a match that captured national attention. Her aggressive net play and composure under pressure surprised many and painted her as a rising star in the sport. With her exit, India’s hopes in the women’s singles event have concluded.
The contrasting fortunes—Satwiksairaj and Chirag advancing while Unnati bows out—illustrate the mix of experience and youth in Indian badminton right now. The men’s doubles pair now have hopes of clinching another title, while fans look forward to Unnati’s return with continued backing and learning from this valuable experience.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty remain one of India’s most successful doubles teams. They have previously achieved number one world ranking, won Super 1000 titles, and collected gold at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. With each tournament, they continue to build on that legacy.
This event serves as crucial preparation ahead of the World Championships scheduled in Paris next month. For Satwik‑Chirag, a semifinal and possible final appearance could reignite confidence ahead of globe’s biggest stage. For Unnati Hooda, the experience signals a start to her journey at the elite level—with expectations rising for her future in the sport.
With the headline mixed results today, Indian badminton continues to balance between established performers and emerging talent at the China Open Super 1000.
