NEW DELHI: Shuttlers Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty‘s run at the India Open Super 750 on Saturday came to an end in the semifinals after they were defeated in straight games by Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin.
The Malaysian duo put on a masterclass, outplaying the 2022 champions 18-21, 14-21 in just 37 minutes.
Satwik and Chirag had a promising start, combining attack and defense to lead 6-9. However, the Malaysians took control by winning five of the next six points, taking a one-point lead at the break.
The Indian pair briefly regained the lead, reaching 15-12 after the interval. But the Malaysians mounted an impressive comeback, including a seven-point run, to secure the first game.
In the second game, the Malaysians raced to an early 5-0 lead. The Indians staged a late fightback, which included a strong service streak from Chirag, but the Malaysians held their ground.
Goh showcased his front court skills as the visitors extended their lead to 5-0 after the change of ends. The Indians got on the board with a well-placed return to a flick serve. Satwik’s jump smash reduced the deficit to 4-8. A good serve and net exchange brought the Indians closer at 7-8. Chirag continued to serve well, and after a closely contested rally, the Malaysians entered the interval with an 11-10 advantage.
The tall Indian duo leveled the score at 13-13, but the Malaysians pulled ahead to 17-14, aided by a warning to Chirag for delaying. The Malaysians then reeled off six consecutive points to reach 20-14 and sealed the match with a perfect ballooning serve to the backline.
This marks a second consecutive semifinal finish for Satwik and Chirag this season.
