China Masters 2023: Satwik-Chirag, Prannoy through to quarterfinals

Both Satwik-Chirag and Prannoy won their round of 16 clashes at the China Masters in straight games.

FILE PHOTO: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (right) and Chirag Shetty (left). | Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES

India’s top-ranked men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, and singles player H S Prannoy progressed to the quarterfinals of the China Masters, a BWF World Tour Super 750 event, in Shenzhen on Thursday.

Asian Games gold medallists Satwik and Chirag defeated Japan’s Akira Koga and Taichi Saito 21-15, 21-16 in 46 minutes. In the quarterfinals, the Indian duo will face Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin.

Asian Games bronze medallist Prannoy too made it to the quarterfinals with a straight-games win. He beat Denmark’s Magnus Johannesen 21-12, 21-18 in 40 minutes. Prannoy next takes on Japan’s Kodai Naraoka.

Koga/Saito 🇯🇵 face up to No.1 seeds Rankireddy/Shetty 🇮🇳.#BWFWorldTour#ChinaMasters2023pic.twitter.com/ix2CKje6Ce

— BWF (@bwfmedia) November 23, 2023

Against Johannesen, Prannoy started on a bright note and used his smart play to race to a 6-1 lead in the first game before the Dane reduced it to 8-6 and then to 14-11.

But the Indian used all his experience and engaged his opponent in long rallies to tire him out and pocket the first game.

The second game was an intense affair as both the shuttlers fought tooth and nail till 15 points and then were tied at 18 apiece before Prannoy got the better of his opponent to close out the contest and seal his quarterfinal spot.

(With inputs from PTI)