BWF World Championships: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty bow out in semi-finals, settle for bronze

NEW DELHI: India’s men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty had to settle for a bronze medal at the BWF World Championships after falling short in a gruelling semi-final against China’s Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi on Saturday.The Indian duo, carrying the hopes of a maiden World Championship title, went down 19-21, 21-18, 12-21 in an intense battle that lasted one hour and seven minutes. While Satwik and Chirag displayed flashes of brilliance, the Chinese pair proved relentless in the decider to march into the final.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The contest began brightly for the Indians, who looked sharp at the net and opened up a commanding 9-3 lead in the first game. Satwik’s booming smashes and Chirag’s quick interceptions had the Chinese on the back foot. However, Chen and Liu responded with steely defence, gradually clawing back into the contest before turning the tide. At 12-12, momentum shifted, and despite the Indians’ resistance in a 24-shot rally, the Chinese took the opener 21-19.Refusing to be rattled, Satwik and Chirag roared back in the second game. The Indians surged ahead 15-11, capitalising on errors from their opponents and tightening their defence. Though Chen and Liu levelled at 17-17, the Indians held their nerve. A couple of late winners ensured Satwik-Chirag forced a decider with a 21-18 triumph, sparking fist bumps and renewed belief.But in the third game, the Chinese stormed out of the blocks. From 0-3, the Indians fell further behind as Chen and Liu reeled off nine consecutive points to lead 11-3 at the interval. Satwik and Chirag struggled to regain rhythm, undone by unforced errors and the Chinese pair’s relentless pace. The gap proved insurmountable, and the Indians eventually went down 12-21.For Satwik and Chirag, this bronze marks another podium finish on the global stage, underlining their stature as one of the world’s most consistent pairs. Yet, the disappointment of falling just short of the final will linger.