Shenzhen, September 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s star men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty described their China Masters triumph as a breakthrough moment and a major confidence boost ahead of the Asian Games 2026.
The Indian duo defeated China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 in a thrilling final on Sunday to claim the title. The victory came after Satwik and Chirag had twice come close to winning the tournament, making their success on the third attempt particularly satisfying.
Satwik said the China Masters had once again provided the pair with valuable confidence after returning from injury. He recalled reaching the semi-finals in 2024 after the Paris Olympics and finishing runners-up last year.
The Indians had endured three-game battles through much of the tournament and showed composure to recover after losing the opening game of the final.
“We held our nerve. We didn’t do mistakes,” Satwik said, adding that sticking to their pre-match game plan proved decisive. He also called the victory their second title of 2026 and said they were delighted to have “broken the jinx”.
Chirag explained that the pair struggled initially because they were playing strokes that suited their opponents. He said the strategy in the second game was to remain aggressive but do so “mindfully”, which helped turn the contest around.
Satwik then produced a crucial serving spell in the decider, winning five consecutive points to seal the match. He said additional work on his serve during his injury layoff had helped him deliver in pressure situations.
The China Masters win comes at an important time, with the Asian Games beginning on September 19. Chirag said winning the title was a “huge boost” and confirmed that the pair would return home, train intensely for the next 10 days and target another strong campaign at the continental event.
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