Sport · India Bureau
Rankireddy, Shetty break China Masters curse with confidence-boosting title
Indian badminton duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty claimed their maiden China Masters Super 750 crown on Sunday, ending a three-attempt drought at the prestigious tournament. The victory provides significant momentum as they prepare for the Asian Games with renewed self-belief.
LSN India ·
Rankireddy and Shetty secured the USD 1.25 million title with a hard-fought comeback victory over China's He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu, winning 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 in the final. The triumph marks their second championship of the 2026 season and represents a breakthrough achievement at a tournament that had eluded them in previous attempts.
The Indian pair attributed their success to maintaining a "mindfully aggressive" approach throughout the week. Rankireddy noted that competing at the China Masters has consistently provided confidence-building opportunities, particularly when returning from injury setbacks. "After coming back from injury, this tournament has given us a lot of confidence," he said, highlighting the resilience demonstrated across multiple rounds.
The players faced demanding contests in nearly every match, with Rankireddy observing that aside from their opening round encounter, they were pushed to three-game battles throughout their campaign. This competitive crucible has left them well-positioned for the upcoming Asian Games, where they intend to compete with "all guns blazing." The victory has delivered what the duo described as a "big boost" heading into the continental championship, armed with renewed momentum and proof of their ability to overcome elite opposition.