India Open 2024: Satwik-Chirag storm into men’s doubles final, HS Prannoy crashes out in semi-final
Former champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty inched closure to securing their first title of the season, advancing to their second consecutive final at the India Open Super 750.
In a compelling semifinal match, the Indian duo, currently ranked World No. 2, faced off against Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia.
Displaying remarkable composure and resilience, Satwiksairaj and Chirag maintained sustained pressure on their opponents, who are the 2022 World champions. The Indian pair clinched the victory with a scoreline of 21-18, 21-14 in a thrilling encounter. Celebrations ensued as Satwik broke into a dance and Chirag jumped into his arms, marking their joyous reaction to the hard-fought win.
Notably, this win comes on the back of their runner-up finish at the Malaysia Open Super 1000 the previous week. The Indian duo demonstrated nerves of steel, particularly in the second game, where they secured 11 of the last 12 points to emerge victorious. This victory marks only their third win against the formidable Malaysian combination of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.
Rankireddy and Shetty started the competition with a 21-15, 19-21, 21-16 win over Fang-Chih Lee and Fang-Jen Lee from Taiwan. They continued their winning streak with a 21-14, 21-15 victory over Lu Ching Yao and Yang Po Han. The Indian pair then dominated the highly-regarded Danish team of Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, clinching a convincing 21-7, 21-10 win and securing their spot in the tournament’s semifinals.
Earlier, HS Prannoy suffered a 15-21, 5-21 loss to China’s Shi Yuqi in the men’s singles semi-final. Despite Prannoy’s strong effort in the first game, Shi Yuqi ultimately emerged victorious in both games. Prannoy started his home campaign with a victory over Chou Tien Chen from Taiwan, securing a 21-6, 21-19 triumph.
He then faced a tough challenge in the following round against compatriot Priyanshu Rajawat, ultimately prevailing with a 20-22, 21-14, 21-14 win. The seasoned player continued his impressive performance by overcoming the young Indian, posting a 23-21, 6-21, 21-5 triumph against Wang Tzu Wei from Taiwan.