Ashwani ponnappa

Ren Xiang Yu: In a display of badminton brilliance, the dynamic Indian duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, stormed into the semi-finals of the Malaysia Open by convincingly defeating the Chinese pair of Ren Xiang Yu and He Ji Ting, here on Friday.

The second-ranked Indian pair, known for their impressive track record and six titles from the previous year, including an Asian Games gold medal, showcased their dominance on the court with a commanding 21-11, 21-8 victory in just 35 minutes.

From the outset, Satwik and Chirag asserted their control, surging to a 7-0 lead in the first game. Their aggressive play and strategic net presence left their Chinese opponents, ranked 32nd in the world, struggling to find their rhythm. The Indians continued their relentless assault, securing an 11-2 lead at the interval.