Daijiworld Media Network – Shenzhen

Shenzhen, Sep 6: India's star men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty produced a spirited comeback to defeat China's He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu in three games and clinch the China Masters Super 750 title on Sunday.

The world No 5 Indian duo recovered from losing the opening game to register an 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 victory in a thrilling final that lasted one hour and 10 minutes.

The triumph marked Satwik and Chirag's second title of the season, following their victory at the Singapore Open Super 750. They had also finished runners-up at the Thailand Open Super 500 earlier this year.

The victory was particularly significant for the Indians as they finally went all the way in their third China Masters final. They had finished runners-up in the 2023 and 2025 editions of the tournament.

The Indian pair, who had a 2-0 head-to-head record against the Chinese duo before the final, endured a difficult opening game. He and Ren raced to a 5-0 lead and maintained their advantage through aggressive attacking play.

The Chinese pair continued to dominate the exchanges and led 11-5 at the interval. Despite attempts by Satwik and Chirag to fight back, the hosts maintained their momentum to take the opening game 21-11.

The Indians returned strongly in the second game, improving their defence and forcing longer rallies. Satwik's flick serves and Chirag's sharp interceptions helped them gain control of the proceedings.

After a tight start, Satwik and Chirag moved ahead 7-6 and entered the interval with an 11-7 advantage. They continued to apply pressure after the break, forcing the Chinese pair into errors and extending their lead.

The Indians eventually earned seven game points before closing out the game 21-13 to level the match.

The decider saw the Chinese pair make another strong start, moving 7-3 ahead. However, Satwik and Chirag displayed remarkable composure and fought their way back into the contest.

Four consecutive points brought the Indians level at 7-7. Although He and Ren managed to hold a slender lead at the interval, Satwik and Chirag remained firmly in contention.

The final stages turned into a tense battle, with both pairs engaging in rapid flat exchanges. The Chinese duo led 15-13 before the Indians levelled at 16-16.

Satwik and Chirag then seized the initiative, moving 18-17 ahead after an error from He. A fortunate net cord gave the Indians three match points, and Chirag sealed the championship with a powerful smash.

The China Masters crown adds another major achievement to the Indian pair's impressive season and provides a significant boost ahead of the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, where they will aim to defend their gold medal.