India’s star men’s doubles duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, were knocked out in the Round of 16 at the Japan Open 2025, falling to China’s Wang Chang and Liang Weikeng in straight games — 22–24, 14–21.

What started as a gritty contest ended in disappointment as the Indians lost grip after a tight first game.


First Game: One Point, One Slip

The opening game showcased high-intensity rallies, with Satwik and Chirag trading smashes and intercepts with Wang and Liang. The Indians saved two game points but failed to capitalize on their own, eventually going down 22–24 after a net error and defensive lapse.

The game lasted 26 minutes but felt like the turning point of the entire match.


Second Game: Collapse in Control

Once the momentum shifted, the Chinese pair never let go. Wang and Liang pressed hard in the mid-court exchanges, forcing errors from Chirag while pinning Satwik to the back with flick serves and tight net returns.

India quickly slipped behind and couldn’t recover. The second game was a blur, over in 17 minutes, ending 14–21.

Also read : Lakshya Sen Knocked Out by Naraoka in Round of 16 Clash https://clickingtosports.com/lakshya-sen-japan-open-2025-round-of-16-exit/

The Bigger Picture: Trouble in Tight Matches
This defeat adds to a worrying trend. Despite their top-five ranking, Satwik-Chirag have now lost four of their last six meetings against Wang-Liang. Their ability to finish tight games is under scrutiny, especially in back-end tournaments where every point matters.

They have the weapons, power, precision, chemistry — but lately, they’ve lacked composure under pressure.

Also read :Japan Open badminton: PV Sindhu after another first-round exit – ‘It’s been a tough year, training-wise it’s going well but it’s a matter of time and consistency’ https://indianexpress-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/indianexpress.com/article/sports/badminton/pv-sindhu-japan-open-first-round-exit-tough-year-10131003/lite/?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17527423198295&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Findianexpress.com%2Farticle%2Fsports%2Fbadminton%2Fpv-sindhu-japan-open-first-round-exit-tough-year-10131003%2F