Satwik-Chirag break China Masters jinx, crowned champions after win vs Hi-Ren

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty finally broke their China Masters jinx in style, fighting back from a game down to beat He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu and clinch their maiden China Masters Super 750 title on SundaySatwik-Chirag break China Masters jinx (PTI Photo)Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty finally broke their China Masters jinx, producing a sensational comeback to win their maiden China Masters 750 title on Sunday. The Indian pair fought back from a game down to defeat home favourites He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 in a gruelling three-game final that lasted 1 hour and 10 minutes.It was a victory built on patience, tactical adjustments and, eventually, sheer nerve.The Indian pair were pegged back early in the summit clash as the Chinese duo brought relentless speed to the court. He and Ren repeatedly dragged Satwik and Chirag into quick exchanges at the front of the court, using the pace to create openings for their smashes whenever the Indians dropped their intensity.Satwik and Chirag were 0-5 down almost immediately and never really found their rhythm in the opening game. He and Ren repeatedly attacked through the centre, making life difficult for the Indians and forcing them into uncomfortable positions. The Chinese pair closed out the first game 21-11, leaving Satwik and Chirag with a huge task if they were to finally get their hands on a title that had eluded them in their previous visits to China.But the Indian pair, bronze medallists at the recent BWF World Championships, changed the complexion of the match from the second game. Chirag was at the heart of the tactical shift. Instead of allowing He and Ren to dictate the pace at the net, he began intercepting the shuttle earlier, putting the Chinese pair under pressure and forcing them to cover more of the court.The change allowed Satwik and Chirag to move their opponents from side to side and stretch the limits of the court. Their defence improved as well, giving them opportunities to attack with combinations of smashes rather than relying on single, powerful hits.It was a crucial adjustment. The big smashes that had failed to trouble the Chinese pair consistently in the opening game were now being supplemented by movement, pressure and variation.The match was set up for a dramatic decider.The third game was a battle of nerves, with neither pair willing to give an inch. He and Ren held a narrow 11-10 lead, but Satwik and Chirag stayed within touching distance despite continuing to make some unforced errors in defence.Satwik's tactics from the back of the court also began to have an impact. He repeatedly lifted the shuttle towards the backhand side of the Chinese pair, forcing them to play slower returns and making them work harder for every attacking opportunity.The Indians could not completely capitalise on the strategy, with errors continuing to creep into their game. But their aggression kept them level, even when their defence threatened to let them down.Then came the decisive moment.Having trailed for much of the third game, Satwik and Chirag finally moved ahead at 18-17. Suddenly, errors began creeping into He and Ren's game as the pressure of playing in front of a home crowd appeared to weigh on the Chinese pair.Satwik, meanwhile, was brimming with confidence.With the match on the line, he produced an audacious flick serve that caught He and Ren off guard. The Chinese pair were left off balance, and the Indians capitalised to take the point.It gave Satwik and Chirag match point.They held their nerve to finish off a remarkable comeback and secure the China Masters title for the first time.The victory was particularly sweet given the heartbreaks of 2023 and 2025, when Satwik and Chirag had fallen short in China. This time, they had to recover from a disastrous opening game, withstand a home challenge and reinvent their approach in the middle of the match.They did all of it.After struggling for control at the start, Satwik and Chirag gradually turned the final into a battle they could dictate. And when the pressure reached its peak in the deciding game, they found the confidence and composure to produce the final flourish.After heartbreaks in 2023 and 2025, Satwik and Chirag finally had their moment in China. And they had to earn it the hard way, coming back from a one-game deficit and holding their nerve when the final was at its tightest.- EndsPublished By: Saurabh KumarPublished On: Sep 6, 2026 16:20 IST