NEW DELHI, Jan 18: The Indian men’s doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty saw their run at the India Open Super 750 come to an end in the semifinals, as they were defeated by Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin on Saturday.
In a match that lasted just 37 minutes, the 2022 champions succumbed with scores of 18-21, 14-21. The Malaysian pair showcased an exceptional performance.
The Indians began positively, combining offensive and defensive strategies to hold a 6-9 lead, but the Malaysians quickly took charge, winning five of the next six points to lead at the interval.
After half-time, Satwik and Chirag initially regained the lead at 15-12. However, the Malaysians responded with a strong comeback, including a remarkable seven-point streak, to secure the first game.
In the second game, the Malaysians raced to a swift 5-0 advantage. The Indian duo attempted a comeback that featured a solid serving sequence from Chirag, but the Malaysians maintained their edge.
Goh’s tactical play at the front court helped the Malaysians maintain control after the break. The Indians finally scored their first points after a flick serve. A powerful jump smash from Satwik briefly reduced the gap to 4-8.
The Indians fought back to 7-8, aided by a challenging serve and a net exchange. Chirag’s continued solid serving put them level at 10-11 at the interval.
The tall Indian players tied it at 13-13, but the Malaysians stretched their lead to 17-14, following a warning for Chirag due to delay. Soon, the score moved to 20-14, thanks to six consecutive points, and the Malaysians finished the match with a well-placed serve to the backline.
This marks the second consecutive semifinal finish for Satwik and Chirag this season. (PTI)
