China Masters: Satwik and Chirag pass tough test to reach 4th semi-final in a row
Fourth seeds Satwiksiraj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty overcame a stiff test against Denmark’s Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen in a thrilling three-game battle in the quarter-finals of the China Masters on Friday 4 September.
Satwik and Chirag needed an hour and 10 minutes to overcome the experienced Danish pair, who came from behind in the decider, to reach the semi-finals of the prestigious Super 750 in Shenzhen for the fourth consecutive time.
The Indian duo defeated Astrup and Rasmussen 21-13, 16-21, 21-18. It was their fifth win in 11 matches against the Danes and their first since 2024.
It was also a much-needed high-intensity outing for Satwik and Chirag, who are building match miles and momentum ahead of the Asian Games, which begin on September 19.
After returning from a long layoff due to injury at the BWF World Championships in Delhi last month, Satwik and Chirag showed their desire for more match practice by traveling to the China Masters even as PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty pulled out of the event with the Asian Games in mind.
After 69 minutes of being pushed by the Popov brothers in Thursday’s Round of 16 match, Satwik and Chirag were tested again, this time by the world number 17 Danish pair.
EXCITING BATTLE
The Indians got off to a flying start, racing out to a 5-1 lead and comfortably outclassing Astrup and Rasmussen in the opening game. But the Danes came back in the second with a sharper tactical plan.
Astrup’s game at the net caused problems. His deft touches and changes of pace at the net repeatedly unsettled the Indians as they struggled to get the length needed to unleash their naturally aggressive game.
The Danes also covered the midcourt and front court brilliantly, rotating effectively and putting relentless pressure on Satwik and Chirag. They took the second game 21-16 to force a decision.
Even the beginning of the third game did not go as expected for the Indians. Satwik and Chirag were down 5-9 but refused to panic. They remained patient, trusted their game and waited for an opening in the Danes’ approach.
By the middle break, the Indians had cut the deficit to two points. From there, they became more proactive, matching the Danes in pace and creativity and gradually wresting control.
At 15:15, the deciding factor hung in the balance. But Satwik and Chirag turned up the intensity at the crucial moment and unleashed the attacking bursts they were looking for to reach the finish line.
The Indians took three match points and although Astrup and Rasmussen saved one, Satwik and Chirag sealed the contest for a place in the last four. It was the fourth time Satwik and Chirag had reached the semi-finals at the China Masters, finishing as runners-up in 2023 and 2025 and losing in the last four stages in 2024.
They are likely to face the world number seven Indonesian pair of Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Isfahani in the semi-finals on Saturday.
Satwik and Chirag have met the sixth-seeded Indonesian pair only once, at last year’s Singapore Open, where the Indians prevailed in three games.
Earlier on Friday, India’s singles campaign came to an end when Kidambi Srikanth, who defeated Victor Lai in the round of 16, lost to Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
04 Sep 2026 19:57 IST