India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty fell short at the final hurdle, concluding their impressive journey at the Malaysia Open Super 1000 with a narrow defeat in the men's doubles final against the top-ranked Chinese duo Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in Kuala Lumpur on January 14.
Despite being the Asian Games gold medallists, Satwik and Chirag couldn't capitalise on an early lead in the decider, ultimately losing 21-9, 18-21, 17-21 to Liang and Wang in a closely contested summit clash. The final showcased both pairs exhibiting exquisite strokeplay.
It marked the fourth defeat for the Indian pair against Liang and Wang, with three of those losses occurring in their last four encounters, all in 2023. The sole occasion Satwik and Chirag emerged victorious was during their title-winning campaign at the Korea Open Super 500 last year.
In the swift playing conditions, the Indian duo initially dominated the proceedings, establishing a 5-1 lead with well-executed angled returns and precise placements.
Satwik and Chirag appeared to be in complete control, while their opponents displayed signs of nervousness, engaging in short and fast-paced rallies characterised by 5-8 flat and fast shots.
At the break, the Indians held a seven-point advantage when the Chinese went to the net.
The precise returns from the Indians frequently left the Chinese players confined as they patrolled the front court. Gradually, the Indians built a commanding lead of 18-9 and secured the opening game after Liang's shot went wide and long.
In the second game, it was the turn of the Chinese pair to surge ahead with an 8-2 lead after the change of ends, capitalising on the Indians repeatedly missing their marks. Satwik's service error and Chirag's mistimed return-to-serve extended the lead to 11-6 for Liang and Wang.
The match didn't witness many smashes, as both pairs refrained from lifting the shuttle and kept the rallies flat. The focus was on finding gaps and angles without compromising on pace.
Following the break, the Indians initiated errors from their opponents, narrowing the score to 15-17. A short serve from Satwik granted two game points to the Chinese, and Liang secured the game with a lethal return, making a strong comeback.
The decider commenced with the same breathtaking pace, and the Indians took an early lead of 4-2 after Liang was penalised for a service fault regarding height.
Regaining their winning momentum, the Indians once again appeared threatening, swiftly accumulating points to reach 10-3 before establishing a four-point cushion at the final break.
Chirag showcased brilliance near the net, capitalising on anything slightly weak. However, the dynamics started to shift after the resumption as Wang asserted dominance in the front court. Wang soon levelled the score at 12-12 with a well-executed flick serve.
Towards the end, Satwik appeared to stumble slightly, conceding a few points on the flat pushes. During one such exchange, when Satwik went wide, the Chinese took a 14-13 lead for the first time.
Liang, who had seemed subdued until then, found his rhythm just in time as the Chinese advanced to 19-16.
A cleverly executed cross-court drop shot provided four championship points to the Chinese. The Indians managed to save one, but the Chinese ultimately closed the door on their hopes.
It marked another commendable performance from the Indian pair, who had previously claimed their inaugural Super 1000 crown at the Indonesia Open last June.
Satwik and Chirag are set to participate in the India Open Super 750 tournament starting in New Delhi on January 16.
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