New Delhi, September 7 (Daily Kiran) : India’s dynamic badminton duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty clinched the men’s doubles title at the BWF Super 750 tournament, the China Masters, by defeating a Chinese pair on Sunday. Their victory not only marks a significant achievement but also sets their sights on the upcoming Asian Games 2026, where they aim to replicate their previous success.
In the 2022 Asian Games, Rankireddy and Shetty triumphed over South Korean competitors Choi Sol-gyu and Kim Won-ho to secure the gold medal. As they prepare for the next Asian Games, which will take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026, Chirag Shetty reflected on their experience in a recent interview. He stated, “This will be our third Asian Games. We have become accustomed to playing on such a grand stage. There’s no additional pressure for big events, but there’s always pressure in tournaments. It’s about how you handle it and move forward.”
With just ten days left for practice before heading to Japan, Shetty emphasized the importance of refining their skills. “We want to perform our best at the Asian Games. Before flying to Nagoya, we aim to work on our weaknesses and keep our bodies fit,” he added.
In their recent match at the China Masters, the Indian pair defeated China’s Ji Ting and Ren Xiangyu with scores of 11-21, 21-13, and 21-17. This victory marks them as the first Indian pair to win the China Masters since the tournament began in 2005. Previously, Rankireddy and Shetty were runners-up in 2023 and 2025, and reached the semifinals in 2024. This win represents their tenth title on the BWF World Tour, making it their second Super 750 title of the year and fourth overall.
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