Hangzhou, 20 December (H.S.): India’s premier men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, continued their remarkable run at the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals, securing a spot in the semifinals with a thrilling victory over Malaysia’s top duo Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik on Friday. The third-seeded Indian pair triumphed 17–21, 21–18, 21–15 after an intense 70-minute encounter.

After dropping the first game, Satwik and Chirag made a stunning comeback, displaying grit and composure against the Paris Olympic bronze medallists. With this triumph, the dynamic Indian duo became the first-ever Indian men’s doubles team to reach the semifinals of this prestigious year-ending tournament.

Dominating Group B as the only unbeaten pair, Satwik and Chirag needed to win just a single game to book their semifinal berth—but they went far beyond expectations, seizing full control of the match. Adjusting their strategy after the opening game, the Indians improved their court positioning, varied their returns smartly, and disrupted the rhythm of the Malaysian pair.

The match featured high-speed rallies right from the start, keeping spectators glued to their seats. Malaysia capitalised on crucial points to clinch the opening game, but the Indians responded in style in the second—showcasing a perfect balance of patience and aggression.

In the decisive moments, power-packed smashes and razor-sharp drives from Satwik and Chirag forced the match into a deciding game and sealed their place among the final four.In the third game, the confident Indian pair overcame early pressure to take an 11–9 lead, before asserting complete dominance in the rallies.

The contest concluded when Soh Wooi Yik misfired on Chirag’s precise serve, handing India a famous win and confirming their semifinal berth.While India’s overall record at the BWF World Tour Finals remains limited, its highlights are memorable. P.V. Sindhu remains the only Indian to clinch the title, winning the women’s singles crown in 2018, while Saina Nehwal finished runner-up in 2011.

In doubles, Jwala Gutta and V. Diju had reached the mixed doubles final back in 2009, marking another milestone in Indian badminton history.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often emphasized, the rise of India’s young athletes reflects the nation’s new sporting confidence and discipline. Satwik and Chirag’s achievement stands as a proud example of that vision on the global stage.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar