India's premier men's doubles badminton pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, kicked off their BWF World Tour Finals campaign with a thrilling, nerve-wracking victory on Wednesday. The world No. 3 Indian duo, the country's sole representatives at the prestigious season-ending event in Hangzhou, staged a spectacular fightback to overcome Olympic silver medallists Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang of China. The final scoreline read 12-21, 22-20, 21-14 in a Group B match that lasted over an hour.
A Slow Start and a Chinese Onslaught
The match began on a worrying note for the Indian fans. The Chinese combination, ranked fifth in the world and holding a dominant 7-3 head-to-head record against the Indians, raced off the blocks. They applied relentless pressure, dominating the short, fast-paced rallies with aggressive drives and sharp interceptions at the net. After a brief period of parity at 7-7, Liang and Wang seized control, forcing errors from Satwik and Chirag to wrap up the first game comfortably in just 13 minutes.
Reflecting on the shaky beginning, Chirag Shetty later admitted, "In the first game we didn't start off that well. Credit to them actually, they kept putting a lot of pressure on us and didn't really let us get into the game."
The Turning Point: Grit and Nerve Under Pressure
The second game witnessed a significant shift in strategy and momentum. Despite falling behind early once again, the Asian Games champions began to vary their pace intelligently. They used flatter lifts to disrupt their opponents' rhythm and engaged them in longer, gruelling rallies. This change paid dividends as they clawed their way back, taking a slender lead at the interval thanks to increased aggression from Satwiksairaj at the front court.
The Chinese pair, however, fought back ferociously, inching ahead and even earning a crucial match point at 19-18. With their tournament life on the line, the Indian stars displayed immense composure. They saved the match point, forced errors from Liang Wei Keng, and capitalised on a moment of confusion. Chirag Shetty fittingly sealed the game with a powerful jump smash, taking the match into a decider.
Decisive Third Game and a Memorable Victory
The final game was a tense affair initially, with both pairs trading points. The Chinese duo managed to secure a slight advantage, but the Indians responded with fierce body smashes and sharper net play. As the pressure mounted, service and net errors began to creep into the Chinese game, while Satwik and Chirag grew in confidence with every point.
From 13-10 onwards, the Indian pair took complete charge of the proceedings. They unleashed a sustained attacking barrage to pull away decisively. After earning seven match points, they converted on the second attempt when Liang and Wang sent a shot wide, sparking celebrations in the Indian camp.
This hard-fought win provides a massive boost to Satwik and Chirag's hopes of progressing from the tough Group B. The duo, who have been in fine form this year with runner-up finishes at the Hong Kong Open and China Masters, will next face the Indonesian pair of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri on Thursday as they aim to build on this impressive start.
