India’s top men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty showcased nerves of steel to secure a quarterfinal berth at the BWF World Championships in Paris.
Facing the formidable Chinese duo Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang—Olympic silver medallists and World No. 6—the Indians dropped the first game 19-21 but bounced back with a commanding 21-15, 21-17 finish.
The match reached a fever pitch in the decider, with Satwik-Chirag trailing 15-17 before unleashing a six-point blitz to seal the win. This marks only their third victory in nine meetings against the Chinese pair, underscoring their growing dominance on the world stage.
Next up, the Indian pair will face the Malaysian World No. 2 team of Aaron Chia and Woo Yik Soh in the last-eight clash, promising another electrifying encounter.
Earlier in the day, P.V. Sindhu and the mixed doubles team of Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila also advanced to the quarterfinals, making it a triumphant day for Indian badminton.
