The Indian men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, are set to compete against South Korea's Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae in the final of the China Masters 2025, a Super 750 tournament. The final is scheduled for September 21, 2025.
Satwik-Chirag's Road to the Final
Satwik and Chirag have demonstrated impressive form throughout the tournament, not dropping a single game en route to the final. In the semi-finals, the Indian duo defeated Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, two-time Olympic medallists, in straight games with a score of 21-17, 21-14. The match lasted 41 minutes, with Satwik and Chirag dominating with their smashes and tight net play. This victory was significant as Chia and Soh had won 11 of their 16 previous encounters. In the quarter-finals, Satwik and Chirag defeated China's Ren Xiangyu and Hao Nan Xie with a score of 21-14, 21-14.
The Opponents: Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae
Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae, the reigning world champions, are currently ranked No. 1 in the world. They secured their World Championships title in Paris. In their semi-final match at the China Masters 2025, the South Korean pair defeated Indonesia's Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri.
Head-to-Head Record
Satwik and Chirag have faced Kim and Seo once before, with the Korean pair winning that encounter.
Recent Performances of Satwik-Chirag
Satwik and Chirag have been in good form recently, reaching their second consecutive final on the BWF World Tour. They recently secured a bronze medal at the World Championships in Paris. Prior to the China Masters, they reached the final of the Hong Kong Open but lost to China's Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang.
Statements from the Players
Following their semi-final win, Chirag Shetty expressed his happiness with their performance and their progression to a second consecutive final. He emphasized the need to rest and prepare for the final.
Other Notable Performances at the China Masters 2025
In women's singles, PV Sindhu lost to An Se-young in the quarter-finals.
Rankings and Achievements
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have a current ranking of 7 in the world. They have previously held the world No. 1 ranking. They have won gold medals at the Asian Games, Asian Championships, and Commonwealth Games. Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae are currently ranked No. 1 in the world. Kim Won Ho also won a silver medal in mixed doubles at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
