India’s star duo of Satwik Sairaj and Chirag Shetty cruise into the quarter-finals of the Indian Open 2025 at IG Stadium Delhi. The duo had a hard-fought challenge against the Japanese duo of Okamura and K. Mitsuhashi ultimately winning the match by (20-22, 21-14, 21-1 ). “We had a tough fight today. The match was intense, and I think we should have closed it out in the first set. But I’m happy we managed to come back strong.” said Chirag after the match.
First game setback
The match started with both pairs playing carefully, exchanging points and feeling each other out. Satwik and Chirag, the Indian pair, managed to grab a slight lead of 11-9 midway through the first set. They continued to play aggressively with Satwik’s strong smashes and excellent teamwork pushing their lead to 18-14. However, some mistakes from Chirag allowed the Japanese pair to even the score at 18-18, and eventually, they won the first game 22-20 after extra points.
“It was challenging to face them because they pushed us, and at times we made things easier for them, which we shouldn’t have. We were quite comfortable in the first game, but I’m happy that even when tired, we held our ground.” said Satwik.
The comeback in next two games
Not disheartened, Satwik and Chirag entered the second game with a fresh mindset. The Japanese team took an early 5-3 lead, but the Indians quickly turned things around. They won five points in a row and led 11-8 at the interval with smart net play and attacking shots. They maintained control and comfortably won the second game 21-14, setting up an exciting final game.
In the third game, Satwik and Chirag kept their momentum going strong. They led 11-7 halfway through, thanks to their determined play and solid strategy. Their powerful smashes and clever shot placements helped them build an 18-13 lead. Eventually, they closed out the game 21-16, achieving an impressive come-from-behind victory.
“Playing three sets is always challenging, especially when you prefer to finish in straight games. For us, the first game is crucial, and today we felt comfortable going into it.” said Satwik.
“Their fighting spirit kept them in the game, but in the second set, we decided to match that with our own patience and determination.” Chirag added.
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