NE Watch Desk
Bharat’s dynamic men’s doubles duo,
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, exhibited a dominating performance
as they secured a place in the semifinals of the Malaysia Open 2024. The powerful
pair, ranked World No. 2, showcased their prowess by overpowering China’s He Ji
Ting and Ren Xiang Yu with a commanding 21-11, 21-8 victory in just 35 minutes
during the quarterfinal clash.
Rankireddy and Shetty, right from the
outset, asserted their dominance, racing to a 7-0 lead and maintaining control
throughout the match. In the second game, though the Chinese pair initially
kept pace, the Indian duo soon found their rhythm, clinching the victory
comfortably and advancing to the semifinals.
The men’s doubles team, now the sole
remaining Indian contenders at the BWF Super 1000 Malaysian Open 2024, will be
eyeing further success as they progress in the tournament.
On a different note, Bharat’s women’s
doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto faced an exit from the
tournament after a defeat to the Japanese duo of Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi,
with a scoreline of 21-15, 21-13.
In spite of their competitiveness in
both games, the Japanese pair elevated their performance after mid-game breaks,
securing a spot in the next round.
Ponnappa and Crasto’s journey to the
last eight included an impressive victory over the world No. 9 pair from Japan,
Wakana Nagahara and Mayu Matsumoto, in the round of 16.
While the women’s doubles team bows out,
all eyes are now on Rankireddy and Shetty as they continue their campaign in
the Malaysia Open, representing Bharat with flair and determination.
