**Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty Secure Maiden China Masters Title**
**SHENZHEN, China** – India’s top-seeded men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, claimed their first China Masters title on Sunday, overcoming a one-game deficit to defeat China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu at the Shenzhen Arena.
The Indian duo secured the victory with a scoreline of 11-21, 21-13, 21-17.
The match began with the Chinese pair, He and Ren, establishing early momentum. Utilizing aggressive pace and attacking play, they dominated the opening game to win 21-11.
Rankireddy and Shetty responded in the second game by increasing their intensity and improving their defensive coordination, which forced the Chinese pair into a series of errors. The Indians leveled the match by winning the second game 21-13.
The deciding game remained competitive until the final points. With the score tied at 17-17, the Indian pair gained the advantage following an error from He, who hit a smash into the net. Rankireddy and Shetty subsequently secured three match points and converted the first, closing out the final game 21-17.
This victory marks the second title of the 2026 season for Rankireddy and Shetty, following their win at the Singapore Open. The pair had previously finished as runners-up at the Thailand Open earlier this year.
The win at the Super 750 tournament serves as a milestone for the duo, who had previously reached the semifinals in 2019 and 2024, and finished as runners-up in 2023 and 2025. The triumph also follows a period of recovery for the pair, as both athletes have been managing injuries; Shetty competed with a strapped back, while Rankireddy has been managing a shoulder injury.
Article and image source: singaporestar.com
