Satwik-Chirag pair falters at semifinal hurdle, signs off with bronze

Top Indian pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty failed to repeat their superb performance in the quarterfinal against their Malaysian nemesis and went down in the semifinals of the men's doubles at the World Championships in Paris.

They signed off with a bronze medal after going down fighting to China's 11th seeds Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi 19-21, 21-18, 12-21 in a 67-minute battle. 

This is the pair's second medal at the Worlds, having won a bronze in 2022.

On Friday, Asian Games champions Satwik and Chirag had stunned their nemesis, Malaysia's two-time Olympic medallists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, in the quarterfinal to extend India's medal streak in the tournament, which began in 2011.

Satwik and Chirag had first clinched a world championships bronze in Tokyo in 2022, a year after narrowly missing out on a medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Their second medal in the prestigious tournament also comes a year after an Olympic heartbreak at the Paris Games.

Satwik and Chirag had the Chinese on the ropes in the opening game, racing to a 9-3 lead with relentless attack and sharp interceptions. But Chen and Liu, defending flat and retrieving everything thrown at them, clawed back.

Chirag went wide on game point and although the Indians saved two, a blistering smash from the Chinese sealed it 21-19.

Switching sides brought a fresh burst as the Indians surged ahead 5-1 with clever judgements aided by drift. Satwik's smashes and Chirag's quick net play forced high lifts that they dispatched ruthlessly.

But Chirag erred repeatedly at the net, and Satwik was faulted on serve, allowing the Chinese to level at 16 all. Satwik's venomous smash and a fortunate net chord helped them eke out a 21-18 win to force a decider.

The third game, however, was one-way traffic. Liu's flick serve unsettled Chirag time and again as the Chinese stormed to a 9-0 lead. At the change of ends, India trailed 3-11 and never recovered.