Malaysia Open 2025: Satwik-Chirag reach quarter-final, Malvika eliminated

Indian shuttlers Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy kept the nation’s hopes alive at the Malaysia Open 2025 with a commanding win to reach the men’s doubles quarter-finals on Thursday.

The seventh-seeded duo displayed composure and skill to overcome Malaysia’s Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong 21-15, 21-15 at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.

The victory was the only bright spot for India on an otherwise disappointing day at the BWF Super 1000 tournament. Satwik and Chirag, popularly known as “SatChi,” will now face another Malaysian pair, Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi, in the quarter-finals on Friday.

In men’s singles, HS Prannoy fought valiantly but fell short against the seventh seed Shi Feng Li of China in a nail-biting second-round clash. Despite Prannoy’s resilience, which saw him take the match to a deciding game, he lost 21-8, 15-21, 23-21 in a marathon contest lasting an hour and 22 minutes. The loss marked the end of World No. 26 Prannoy’s campaign in Malaysia, as he missed out on a spot in the quarter-finals.

Malvika Bansod eliminated

In women’s singles, Malvika Bansod’s spirited run in the tournament ended with a second-round loss to World No. 5 and third-seeded Han Yue of China. Malvika started strong, racing to a 6-2 lead in the opening game, but couldn’t sustain the pressure. Han regrouped and clinched the match 21-18, 21-11, bringing an end to the 23-year-old Indian’s campaign.

India’s doubles teams also endured frustrating exits in the second round. Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto battled hard against the seventh-seeded Chinese pair Zhang Chi and Cheng Xing but fell short in straight games, losing 21-13, 22-20. Similarly, Sathish Kumar Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath were outclassed by Malaysia’s Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai, the fourth seeds, 21-10, 21-17.

In the women’s doubles category, Commonwealth Games bronze medallists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand put up a spirited fight against China’s Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian. After losing the first game, Treesa and Gayatri rallied to win the second but couldn’t maintain the momentum in the decider, eventually going down 15-21, 21-18, 21-19.

Sat-Chi continue to shine

The day’s results mean Chirag and Satwik are the last Indians standing in the tournament. The duo, who have been in fine form recently, will look to continue their stellar run as they prepare for a challenging quarter-final clash against Ong and Teo.

While India’s campaign faced several setbacks, the performances showcased grit and determination, particularly from Prannoy and the doubles pairs. All eyes will now be on Satwik and Chirag as they aim to bring glory to Indian badminton at the Malaysia Open 2025.