World Championships: Liang-Wang Beat Satwik-Chirag, Indian Pair Miss Semi-Final Spot

New Delhi, Aug 21: In the men's doubles quarter-finals of the World Championships, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty's pursuit of a second consecutive semi-final berth came to an end against China's Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang. The Indian pair suffered a 21-18, 21-9 defeat in the match held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

This loss marked the conclusion of India's men's doubles campaign at the tournament, leaving Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand as the sole representatives for the country. The women's doubles pair had secured a semi-final spot earlier, ensuring at least a bronze medal.

The Indian pair, who had arrived in New Delhi as defending bronze medallists, encountered early challenges from the Chinese duo. Liang and Wang quickly gained a 3-0 lead, utilizing their aggressive playing style to trouble the Indians. Despite briefly regaining a narrow 11-10 lead at the interval, Satwik and Chirag found themselves under pressure once again. After the break, the Chinese combination refused to let India escape their grasp, eventually winning the second game 21-9.

The Indian pair's campaign ended prematurely, with the match lasting just 35 minutes. This defeat ended their hopes of surpassing their bronze-medal finish from the previous year, when they had reached the semi-finals alongside China's Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi. China's dominance in this match secured another Chinese combination a spot in the semi-finals, denying the Indians another chance to improve on their 2025 performance.