Malaysia Open: Satwik-Chirag Storm into Men’s Doubles Quarterfinals, Kidambi Srikanth Faces Early Exit

Indian men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty showcased their prowess at the Malaysia Open Super 1000 badminton tournament, securing a spot in the quarterfinals. The duo defeated France’s Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar with a score of 21-11, 21-18, setting up a clash against China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu.

In another impressive feat, the Indian women’s doubles duo Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto surprised the seventh-seeded Japanese pair Wakana Nagahara and Mayu Matsumoto with a thrilling 21-19, 13-21, 21-15 victory. This win brings them closer to qualifying for the Paris Olympics.

However, Kidambi Srikanth faced disappointment as he couldn’t advance past the second round, succumbing to a 13-21, 17-21 defeat against Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long Angus. Despite Srikanth’s promising start with a 6-1 lead, Ka Long’s confidence grew, leading to a series of unforced errors from the Indian player.

In the men’s doubles, Satwik and Chirag dominated the opening game with an 11-2 lead, but their French opponents staged a comeback to make it 12-14. The Indian pair regrouped, securing the first game and eventually winning the match despite a spirited effort from Corvee and Labar in the second game.