Satwik-Chirag Reach China Masters 2026 Semifinals, Srikanth Stops at Quarterfinals

At the 2026 China Masters (Super 750) badminton tournament held in Shenzhen, China, India's top men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty secured a semifinal berth after a 2-1 victory (21-13, 16-21, 21-18) over Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen on September 4. This intense quarterfinal match spanned three games, with Satwik-Chirag showing composure by winning 6 of the final 7 points in the decider to overcome opponents who had defeated them at the World Championships quarterfinals last month. The match saw a strong start from the Indian pair as they dominated the first game 21-13 with powerful smashes and good net control. However, Astrup/Rasmussen adjusted tactically in the second game, especially after the technical interval, to stage a comeback and win 21-16. In the deciding game, Satwik-Chirag trailed 15-17 but won six consecutive points, including a 36-shot rally at 17-17, to close out the match 21-18. This is the fourth consecutive time they have reached the China Masters semifinals since 2026. Satwik-Chirag, currently ranked world No. 5, have had an up-and-down 2026 season: winners of the Singapore Open (Super 750) in May, runners-up at the Thailand Open (Super 500) the same month, but forced to withdraw mid-match at the Indonesia Open (June) due to injury. They also exited at the World Championships quarterfinals in August against the same Astrup/Rasmussen pair. This victory allows them to avenge that loss and reinforces their strong record at a tournament where they always perform well. Meanwhile, India's men's singles representative Kidambi Srikanth (33 years old, world No. 34) stopped at the quarterfinals after a straight-games loss 16-21, 16-21 to Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu (world No. 25). Srikanth, a former world No. 1 and 2026 World Championships silver medalist, could not surprise an opponent who has beaten him in 3 of their last 4 meetings. The result reflects Srikanth's current form as he navigates the late stages of his career, though he continues to compete diligently. The China Masters Super 750 offers a total prize pool of US$1.25 million and provides 11,000 ranking points to the champion. For Satwik-Chirag, reaching the semifinals helps them defend most of the points from last year's runner-up finish and builds psychological momentum ahead of the Asian Games later this year, where they are the defending champions. However, the dense tournament schedule and risk of injury recurrence remain major concerns for the pair as they need to maintain fitness to compete with top rivals like Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang (China) and Kim Won-ho/Seo Seung-jae (South Korea). As for Srikanth, his decline in performance is inevitable at age 33, no longer at his physical peak. Though he still plays with a fighting spirit, consistently exiting early in major tournaments shows that a return to the top tier is highly unlikely. The Badminton Association of India needs to plan for generational transition in men's singles, where Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy currently bear the responsibility. In summary, today's matches showcased two contrasting trajectories for Indian badminton: Satwik-Chirag remain the primary hope with their ability to compete evenly on the international stage, while Srikanth is quietly closing the final chapter of his career. Both have left their mark, and experts will closely watch the men's doubles pair's progress in the upcoming semifinal against top seeds Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang of China. This article is based on match analysis data and sources from the Badminton World Federation (BWF).