Hong Kong Open Super: India’s campaign at the Hong Kong Open Super 500 got off to a bright start on Tuesday, with men’s doubles stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty recording a fighting win and singles player Kiran George making his way into the main draw after clearing qualifying rounds.
Satwik and Chirag, the world No. 8 pair and eighth seeds in the tournament, looked sharp in their first-round clash against Taiwan’s Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin. The Indian duo raced through the opening game 21-13 with commanding play at the net and their trademark booming smashes. However, the Taiwanese pair regrouped in the second game, pushing Satwik-Chirag into longer rallies and forcing errors to take it 21-18 and level the match.
In the decider, the Indians rediscovered their rhythm. Combining quick interceptions with relentless attacking play, they regained complete control to close out the contest 21-10. Fresh from winning a bronze medal at the World Championships in Paris last month – their second at the marquee event – the pair will now face either Japan’s Kenya Mitsuhashi/Hiroki Okamura or Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul in the second round.
Satwik and Chirag, the world No. 8 pair and eighth seeds in the tournament, looked sharp in their first-round clash against Taiwan’s Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin. The Indian duo raced through the opening game 21-13 with commanding play at the net and their trademark booming smashes. However, the Taiwanese pair regrouped in the second game, pushing Satwik-Chirag into longer rallies and forcing errors to take it 21-18 and level the match.
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The day also saw a dramatic result in qualifying as 20-year-old Tharun Mannepalli stunned former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth 28-26, 21-13 in the first round. However, Tharun could not extend his dream run, falling to Malaysia’s fourth seed Justin Hoh 21-23, 13-21, 18-21 in his next outing.