‘We Kind of Broke the Jinx': Satwik-Chirag Celebrate China Masters Title

Text-to-speech · beta Badminton PhotsFor a few years, the China Masters had been a heartbreak for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. They reached the final in 2023 and again in 2025 only to leave without the title. On Sunday in Shenzhen, that long-standing frustration finally ended. The Indian pair produced a gritty comeback to beat China's He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 and win their maiden China Masters Super 750 title. It was their second title of 2026 and a moment they had been waiting for. The win did not come easy and they were tested. They trailed in all three games and had to dig deep, especially in the decider. Sticking to their game plan and staying composed under pressure made the difference. 'We kind of broke the jinx and I think second title in 2026. Really happy,' Satwik said to the media on Monday. He pointed out that the tournament has often treated them kindly when they returned from injury. 'Playing here is always good. We have played here always after coming back from injury. In 2024, after the Olympics, we played here and reached the semis. Last year we played the final even though we weren't in great shape. This time also, after coming back from injury, this tournament has given us a lot of confidence,' he added. Chirag later described the result as more than just another trophy. It was proof that their recent work was heading in the right direction, particularly with the Asian Games just around the corner. For a pair that has faced injuries, ranking dips and repeated heartbreaks at this event, lifting the China Masters title felt like closing a chapter. The jinx was finally broken and Satwik-Chirag head into the Asian Games with freedom. A Decade of Trust, Struggles and Success for Satwik-Chirag Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have now spent more than a decade as partners. Their journey began in 2016 when coach Tan Kim Her decided to put two tall, aggressive youngsters together. Few would have predicted that they would become India's most successful doubles pair and the first from the country to reach world No. 1. The early days were tough. They lost regularly, clashed over who should play at the back, and heard public calls for the partnership to be broken. Yet they stayed together. Over time, the relationship deepened beyond the court. 'We have been playing for almost 12 years now, so we know pretty much everything about both of us, how we think, how we handle ourselves in pressure situations. Our goals are pretty much the same,' Satwik said earlier this year after their Singapore Open win. Injuries have been constant, especially Satwik's recurring shoulder problems that forced mid-tournament retirements and long absences. Ranking drops, personal losses, and periods of frustration tested them. Chirag has repeatedly spoken about how one player's pain becomes the other's burden. 'Once you're not having a good time on the court, you have to trust your partner, just cover me for a few points, then I will get back onto the court,' Satwik explained. Image Credits: Badminton Photos Have your say