Hong Kong Open: Double Delight For India As Lakshya Sen, Satwik-Chirag Enter Finals (Ld)

Hong Kong Open: Double delight for India as Lakshya Sen, Satwik-Chirag enter finals (Ld) (Image Source: IANS)

Hong Kong Open: India enjoyed a memorable day at the Hong Kong Open 2025 as Lakshya Sen stormed into the men’s singles final while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty ended their semifinal jinx to book a place in the men’s doubles summit clash here on Saturday.

With both entries confirmed, India is assured of a strong presence in Sunday’s final.

For Sen, the semifinal win marked a return to the big stage after a two-year wait. The 24-year-old overcame Chinese Taipei’s third seed Chou Tien Chen in straight games, 23-21, 22-20, in 56 minutes of high-intensity badminton.

Showing nerves of steel in the closing stages of both games, Sen secured his first Super 500 final since 2023. He now faces World No. 4 Li Shi Feng of China in what promises to be a thrilling encounter. Significantly, Sen holds a 7-6 head-to-head advantage over the Chinese star, adding an extra edge to the contest.

Earlier in the day, Satwik and Chirag finally broke through after a year of setbacks, reaching their first final since their Asian Games gold medal triumph in October 2023. The World No. 9 Indian pair dismissed Chinese Taipei’s unseeded duo Bing-Wei Lin and Chen Cheng Kuan with authority, 21-17, 21-15, snapping a frustrating run of six consecutive semifinal defeats in 2025.

Their next challenge is formidable: China’s World No. 3 pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who eased past compatriots Fang-Chih Lee and Fang-Jen Lee 21-19, 21-8. For the Indians, however, this final appearance comes as a huge morale boost after enduring a tough year riddled with injuries and personal struggles.

Earlier in the day, Satwik and Chirag finally broke through after a year of setbacks, reaching their first final since their Asian Games gold medal triumph in October 2023. The World No. 9 Indian pair dismissed Chinese Taipei’s unseeded duo Bing-Wei Lin and Chen Cheng Kuan with authority, 21-17, 21-15, snapping a frustrating run of six consecutive semifinal defeats in 2025.

Often hailed as trailblazers of Indian men’s doubles, Satwik and Chirag now have a golden chance to cap their comeback with a title. Alongside Lakshya Sen’s surge in singles, India stands on the brink of a rare double triumph at a major BWF Super 500 event.

Article Source: IANS