The BWF World Tour Finals is one of the toughest competitions in badminton. With only eight players or pairs making the cut, every match feels like a knockout game. For India’s star duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who are the country’s sole representatives at Hangzhou 2025, the challenge is tough. They have been drawn into the ‘Group of Death’, which leaves them no room to breathe, let alone slip. But in the two matches that they have played so far, they have triumphed dominatingly and taken control of their campaign.
India’s top-ranked duo registered their second consecutive win in Hangzhou yesterday, where they beat Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri in a thrilling three-game encounter. While they started off strong, they slipped in the second game, but responded with authority and closed out the game – 21-11, 16-21, 21-11. In the match, they showcased immense composure and tactical clarity under pressure.
This win has now placed India’s star duo in a commanding position in Group B; they have taken the top spot with two wins from two matches. They are also leading with a significant points-difference compared to the other pairs in the group. Although, mathematically, all four pairs in Group B remain in contention for a semi-final spot, Sat-Chi are in a commanding position. .
So how can Satwik and Chirag qualify for the semifinals from here?
The simplest answer is that the duo will have to win their final group match against their old rivals Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik from Malaysia. A victory in the next game would guarantee a spot in the semifinals and would eliminate any permutations or combinations.
However, even if the Sat-Chi combination ends up with a loss, they could still remain in a strong position to seal the semifinal berth. They already have two wins on the board and qualification could still be secured depending on the margin of defeat and results of the other group match. The World-Tour Finals group stage is decided first by number of wins, then by match difference and finally by points difference if required. And thanks to their dominant wins, the Indians currently hold a healthy buffer on points.
Finally, this format is designed to expose weaknesses and put shuttlers under pressure. But Sat-Chi have been able to lean on their strengths with their sharp attacking play, improved net control compared to before and an ability to make strong comebacks after a setback.
No pair is safe until the final game is done and India’s doubles pair have given themselves multiple pathways to the semi-finals. One more win could turn the semi-final berth into a confirmed one.
