HONG KONG: India’s top men’s doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty finished as runners-up at the Hong Kong Open Super 500 after a narrow loss to China’s Olympic silver medallists Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in a gripping final on Sunday.
The world No.9 Indian pair, who recently bagged a second consecutive World Championships bronze, began strongly by taking the opening game but eventually lost 21-19, 14-21, 17-21 in a tense 61-minute battle at the Hong Kong Coliseum.
It marked their first final appearance in 16 months, dating back to their Thailand Open triumph, but the defeat ended their flawless run in Super 500 finals, where they had previously won all four finals contested.
Satwik-Chirag Show Early Spark at Hong Kong Open Super 500
The opening game turned into a high-octane contest with Satwik and Chirag matching the Chinese pair point for point. Chirag’s powerful smashes erased an early deficit and gave India a 9-8 lead.
At 10-10, a wide shot from the Indians was quickly nullified by a Liang error before Chirag’s sharp smash ensured a slender 11-10 advantage at the interval.
Post-break, the Indians surged ahead 13-11 with a flurry of aggressive smashes. Satwik’s body attack on Wang and Chirag’s pinpoint serve pushed them further ahead. Despite a late Chinese comeback, Chirag sealed the opener with a precision serve that clipped the line, giving India the early momentum.
Chinese Duo Bounce Back Strong in the Second Game
The sixth-ranked Chinese pair regrouped quickly, racing to an 8-2 lead with Wang dominating from the back court. Though India reduced the deficit briefly, Liang and Wang maintained their grip and entered the mid-game interval with an 11-6 cushion.
Chirag’s sharp net play brought the Indians closer at 12-14, but back-to-back errors allowed the Chinese to surge again. A booming smash gave them six game points, and Satwik’s wide shot confirmed the 21-14 result, levelling the match.
Decider Turns Tough for Satwik-Chirag at Hong Kong Open Super 500
The deciding game proved costly for India as Liang and Wang stormed to a 5-0 lead, quickly extending it to 11-2 at the interval. Unforced errors and coordination lapses from Satwik-Chirag hurt India’s chances, even as they tried mounting a late comeback.
Saving three match points, the Indians showed resilience to close the gap to 17-20, but a wayward return sealed the contest in favour of the Chinese duo.
Despite the loss, Satwik and Chirag’s consistent performances in 2025 — including six semifinal appearances and a World Championships bronze — underline their status as one of the world’s most formidable pairs.
Lakshya Sen Eyes Singles Title After Satwik-Chirag Runner-Up Finish
Later in the day, India’s Lakshya Sen will take on China’s Li Shi Feng in the men’s singles final at the Hong Kong Coliseum. With Satwik-Chirag’s runner-up finish already putting India in the spotlight, Sen will be hoping to add golden glory to the nation’s campaign.
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