China Open 2019: Satwiksairaj RankiReddy and Chirag Shetty went down fighting in the semi-finals
The Indian challenge ended as Satwiksairaj RankiReddy and Chirag Shetty lost to World number 1 Marcus Gideon and Sukamujlio of Indonesia in two straight sets by 16-21, 20-22 in the semi-finals of the Super 750 China Open played Haxia Olympic Sports Center on Saturday. It was an impressive start by young Indian pair who went toe to toe with the World number 1 with aggressive stroke play and gave them a tough fight. At the interval, Gideon and Sukamulijo took a 11-9 lead. After the interval, Satwik and Chirag committed lot of errors on the net which led the Indian pair lost the first set at 16-21. In the second game, the young Indian pair proved their worth with smash shots and took alternate points. Leading 10-8 at one time, the World number 1 pair levelled the score at 10-10. At the interval, the World number 1 took a slender 11-10 lead. After the interval, it was an amazing display of badminton by both pairs as they looked to take the advantage from each other. Again, the I...