China Open 2025: Satwik-Chirag pair enters semifinals; Unnati Hooda's run ends
This will be the duo's third semifinal appearance on the BWF Tour after it had reached the last four at the Singapore Open and India Open.
Satwik-Chirag beat the Malaysians 21-18, 21-14 in a quarterfinal match which lasted 40 minutes.
The Indians will now meet another Malaysian pair in Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik which had beaten them in the Singapore Open semifinals in a three-game match.
Earlier in the day, Indian youngster Unnati Hooda saw her campaign end with a straight-games loss to Japan's Akane Yamaguchi in the quarterfinals in Changzhou.
Third-seeded Yamaguchi, a two-time world champion, defeated the 17-year-old Hooda 21-16, 21-12 in 33 minutes to book her place in the semifinals.
'I was making so many unforced errors at times when the scores were equal. She (Yamaguchi) was very good with her drop shots and controlled the game,' said Hooda after the loss.
'I need to be more patient against her because she is really good with her defence. I can't be in a hurry to finish the point. I should be patient to wait for the right time to attack.,' added the teenager when asked about what she learned from her first meeting with World No. 4 Yamaguchi.
Nevertheless, it was a breakthrough event for World No. 35 Hooda as she defeated World No. 29 Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland in straight games in the opening round before outlasting compatriot and two-time Olympic medallist P. V. Sindhu in a three-game battle in the round of 16.
'I am happy that I reached the quarterfinals in my first Super 1000 event but lots to learn from this tournament,' said Hooda.
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