Indian men’s doubles stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty saw their India Open Super 750 journey end in the semifinals as they suffered a straight-game defeat to Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin in New Delhi on Saturday.
The 2022 champions were bested 18-21, 14-21 in a 37-minute encounter by the world number 3 Malaysian pair, who tactically outmaneuvered the Indian duo, breaking their rhythm and exposing their weaknesses at crucial moments.
“We had a good start and should have capitalized in the first game. However, their precise service strategy caught us off guard, and we weren’t able to adjust in time,” Chirag reflected post-match.
A Tough Battle for the Indian Duo
Despite entering the match with high expectations, Satwik and Chirag faced relentless pressure from their opponents. Satwik, who appeared to have twisted his ankle during a crucial rally, mentioned he would assess the injury post-match.
“I felt my ankle twist badly, but I’ll need to get it checked properly,” Satwik shared.
This marks the duo’s second consecutive semifinal exit this season, following a similar result at the Malaysia Open Super 1000 in Kuala Lumpur last week. It also follows their semifinal finish at the China Masters, their first event after their quarterfinal departure at the Paris Olympics.
Match Breakdown
The Indian pair began strongly, leading 6-9 in the opening game by effectively blending offense with defense. However, the Malaysians quickly responded, winning five of the next six points to enter the break with a slender one-point advantage.
After the interval, Satwik and Chirag managed to regain control at 15-12, but the Malaysians turned the tables with a seven-point streak, capitalizing on the Indians’ unforced errors. A misplaced smash from Satwik handed the first game to the Malaysians.
The second game saw Goh dictating the pace from the front court, as the Malaysians stormed to a 5-0 lead. The Indians fought back, narrowing the gap to 7-8 after a well-placed net exchange. Though they leveled the score at 13-13, the Malaysians surged ahead, securing six consecutive points to wrap up the match convincingly.
Final Showdowns Await
- Men’s Doubles Final: Malaysia vs. Korea: The Malaysian pair of Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin will compete against Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae from Korea in the men’s doubles final.
- Women’s Singles Final: Korea vs. Thailand: In the women’s singles final, An Se Young from Korea will face Pornpawee Chochuwong from Thailand in what promises to be a thrilling contest.
- Mixed Doubles Final: France vs. China: The final in mixed doubles will feature Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue from France battling against Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin from China.
The tournament’s final day promises high-octane clashes as top-seeded contenders vie for glory. An Se Young, the reigning Olympic champion, will face Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong in the women’s singles final, while the French duo of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue will attempt to claim their maiden Super 750 title against China’s second-seeded Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin.
The women’s doubles final will see eighth-seeded Kim Hye Jeong and Kong Hee Yong of South Korea battle Japan’s Arisa Igarashi and Ayako Sakuramoto for the championship crown.
As the India Open 2025 reaches its climax, all eyes are set on these electrifying matchups that will determine the ultimate champions.