India today at BWF World Championships Round of 16 Highlights: Perfect day for Indian badminton as Satwik-Chirag, Sindhu, Dhruv-Tanisha win

Satwik-Chirag stared at another Paris heartbreak but produce an inspiring fightback to beat Liang-Wang 

Satwik-Chirag's 19-21, 21-15, 21-17 match in 66 testy minutes wasn't won on latent power or talent or confidence. The Indian dodged landslide debris of Chinese momentum to eke out a win while not dictating the tone or tenor of the match.

Things have gotten so tense in the Toma junior Popov- Anders Antonsen match that French coaches are using that neck muscle comforter that's used to cool down players, on their own heads. Toma has also spilled blood on the court grazing his knee but had to be persuaded to receive treatment. The ice pack is now permanently on the coach's head.

Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto started it off with. They stunned fifth seeds Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong China to book their place in the quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships 2025. The Indian pair battled past their opponents with a hard-fought 19-21, 21-12, 21-15 win in an intense 1 hour 3 minute encounter.

PV Sindhu then turned back the clock. She returned to the quarter-finals with a sensational victory over World No. 2 Wang Zhiyi of China. The 2019 World Champion stamped her authority early with a win in the first game, before outplaying her opponent with an utterly dominant second game performance to wrap up a 21-19, 21-15 victory in just 48 minutes. 

And in the end, Satwik-Chirag produced a stirring fightback. They beat sixth seeds Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang of China. Facing the Chinese pair in the Round-of-16, Satwik-Chirag narrowly conceded the opening game 19-21, before bouncing back in style and dominating the second game 21-15. The decider was a tense affair, with scores level at multiple points, before Satwik-Chirag sealed the victory 21-17 at 1 hour 6 minutes and secured their place in the quarterfinals.

But remember, it would not mean much if they can't get one more win on Friday... they'd have to do it all over again. 

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty produced a comeback win to storm past sixth seeds Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang of China at the ongoing BWF World Championships 2025 in Paris. Facing the Chinese pair in the Round-of-16, Satwik-Chirag narrowly conceded the opening game 19-21, before bouncing back in style and dominating the second game 21-15. The decider was a tense affair, with scores level at multiple points, before Satwik-Chirag sealed the victory 21-17 at 1 hour 6 minutes and secured their place in the quarterfinals. The Indians will next face second seeds Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia, the Indians' nemeses.

Via BAI 

THE OUTLET OF EMOTIONS!! 

What a turnaround from Satwik-Chirag. First from dropping the opening game, and then from 15-17 down in the decider, to win SIX STRAIGHT POINTS AND WIN THE MATCH.

The Indians are back in the quarterfinals. 

Three match points for the Indians! 

And the momentum swings again. Sawik with a couple of direction changes from midcourt and then Chirag's shot is not returned. 

The Indians are 2 points away now! 

Oh a break in play as the stadium PA starts playing music. 

Liang's big booming smash from the backcourt, his favoured position, sees the shuttle not come back from the other side. Two points lead for the Chinese.

Satwik is really fired up here at the moment. He has the serve back at 16-17. 

WOW WHAT A POINT! Chirag with a sensational diving retrieval and Satwik then puts away a winner at the net. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. And for 17-17 in the decider no less. 

Satwik charges to the net and Chirag complements him with a fine backhand drive into the middle of the court. Liang is at the front court and that is not his favoured position. Back level at 15.

Oh dear, the net cord is surely favouring the Chinese today! Another slice of luck for them that floors Chirag on his backfoot. 

Oh a bad error of judgement from the Chinese on the service return and the shuttle has caught the line. 

Chirag has the serve now. Hugely important phase of play coming up. 

Oh dear, things have turned around big time here... and in no time. Wang has taken over this match suddenly. 

Hugely important point for the Indians, Chirag with a great return of serve. 

Sumeeth Reddy wanted the Indians to be daring. This is the time to be daring. 

WOW WHAT A RALLY AT 12-12. Sensational defence from the Indians, Chirag especially. Relentlessly keeping the shuttle in play but the point eventually goes to the Chinese. And just like that Liang-Wang are on the charge now. The Indians being put under a lot of defensive pressure. 

One of the best rallies of the match. Satwik sets it up with a nice return of the flick serve and the Indians go all out attack this time, and one of the defensive pushes from the Chinese players goes wide. Another fist pump from Satwik. All level at 10. 

And it is Satwik-Chirag with the smallest possible lead at the change of ends. Going into their favourable side with an advantage. But in men's doubles, side advantage is usually miniscule. 

The Indians draw level at 9-9. Meanwhile, Shivani Naik quips...

Because this match pattern is so random and staccato, a random question behoving the 11:09 pm update: Does Gill Clark call Chirag Shetty Chiraq (shir-aak) like the former premier, only in French tournaments

A rarely seen fist-pump from Satwik as he wins the serve back with an aggressive point from the middle of the court. All level at 7.

Chirag gives the serve right back though... "Focus on next point," Sumeeth yells out from the coaching bench. 

And Chirag mishits a smash that didn't even make it past Satwik in front of him as his strings gave away. The slo-mo replay was quite something as Chirag rose high to nail it, too bad it didn't work. A 9-7 lead for the Chinese after two unforced errors. 

And Satwik takes over at the net superbly to put away a winner. Great pressure. 

Steen PEdersen on. ommentary: Every point that the Indians win from the far side could be important when they change ends

Oh what a sensational rally at 4-6. The Indians are superb on defence once more, repelling waves of Chinese attacks and they win a brillaint point.

And Chirag makes it 6-6 with a terrific winner into the empty deep corner of court. Wonderful placement. 

Oh a lucky net cord for the Chinese as the Indian pair is standing deep in defence. And they can't get to it the shuttle. 

A really good attacking point from Chirag to get the serve back at 3-5. 

Wang Chang gets the serve back with a lovely return of serve.

Liang's serve again. Danger signs for India. But this time they get it right back. 

Phew, this is breakneck pace. 

The Indians have been guilty of often starting deciding third games badly. And a 3-1 early lead for the Chinese is not a good sign. 

SatChi must stay in touch at the change of ends. 

A superb response from Satwik-Chirag after dropping that opening game as they lead all the way through, and force the decider. Brilliant stuff. As usual this match delivering the goods.

Here's how the second game unfolded. 

Wang wins the serve back for 14-19.

Satwik reacts superbly to a net cord that could have easily been an easy point for the Chinese, the Indians somehow keep the rally going. And win the point. SIX GAME POINTS FOR SATCHI. 

One saved by Liang's backhand drive to the deep forehand corner of the Indians. 

Liang goes for a flick serve now and Satwik reads it well and the Indians win the point to force the decider. HERE WE GO! 

Oh, oh, oh. This is a really good mini run for the Chinese pair and unsurprisingly it is on Liang's serve. That is the Indian Achilles heel. A lovely touch from Liang at the net as he was shaping up to smash. 

The Indians really needed to get the serve back, and they win a somehwat fortunate point to go up 18-13.

Make that 19-13 as Wang snatches a drive at the net. 

The Indians with another well-constructed point, catching the Chinese out of position at the same side of the court and then finding the empty corner for 15-10.

Chirag with a superb smash while backtracking for 16-10. 

A service return error from Wang and it is a 7-point lead for the Indians. 

Coach Tan Kim Her also seemed to remind the Indians that the first four shots matter... focus, focus, focus on that.

Oh wow, that's a bad error of judgment from Wang Chang at the backcourt, a real late decision to try and play it and he nearly hits on the floor right next to his feet. 

Now it is Wang's turn for an air-shot that we saw from Liang in the first game. 

This is a very handsome lead for the Indians at 14-8. 

A couple of errors from Liang's racket and Satwik-Chirag race into a 11-6 lead in Game 2. 

ORGANIZE: That seems to be the keyword from Tan Kim Her in both the intervals so far. And he is also asking Chirag to do ONLY low serves, seems pretty insistent on that. 

Looked like the Indians were taking charge of this game but the Chinese have fought back with Wang Chang showing he is no mug from the backcourt either with a sueprb steep smash. 

A sensational flat rally follows with four players going at each other crosscourt and the Indians stay their ground at midcourt to take that point for a 8-6 lead.

A brilliant Satwik direction-change block opens up the next rally for Chirag and he puts it away. The Indians go up by 3. 

A mistake from Liang at the backcourt as he nets a backhand drive as the Indians go up 3-1. 

Liang gets lucky with the net cord on service return but the Indians get the serve back immediately to keep a lead. 

Here's how the first game panned out. The Indians kept trying to catch up but the Chinese duo always stayed a step or two ahead.

Chirag takes charge at the mid-court and a backhand drive from him helps save one game point. 

The Chinese make another error, the shuttle goes long. And it is a 1-point game again at 19-20! 

Satwik to serve and Wang pounces on the service return! A thriller, as expected between these two, and it is the Chinese pair who take the lead. 

Three game points for the Chinese as a lift from Satwik is punished. Too high, that and Liang put it away with venom. 

Oh a lovely flick serve from Satwik and the gap is down to 2 points at 16-18. The Indians just about staying alive here.

Satwik tries another flick serve, perhaps too much to hope... it is called out real-time and the Indians review this. It is not going to help them. 

The average rally length in this match so far is 7.7 shots, informs Gill Clark! That is a stat we would love to have access too. 

This is now entering now-or-never territory in Game 1. A 5-point lead as Liang splits the difference again between Satwik-Chirag.

Satwik gets the serve back with a good whipped forehand smash, but the Indians give it back again. Chirag's turn after that to put one away from the front court to make it 14-18. 

This is a potentially decisive lead for the Chinese pair. A return error from Chirag. 

Time time a mishit from Liang as Satwik rushes to the net and plays a flat push that seemed to catch Liang by surprise. 

Oh dear, that is another bad miss from the Indian side. Satwik with some relentless pressure, Chirag too keeping up the attack but the latter can't finish the point at the net, snatching at a shot. The Indian coaches, Tan and Sumeeth, both throw their heads back in frustration. 

Oh dear, another service fault for height, this time for Satwik. The Indians haven't helped their cause again. 

A quickfire start after the interval from Satwik-Chirag. Two quick points and the gap is down to 2. 

Chirag then called for a service fault for height... unfortunate because he was made to wait by Wang to get ready. 

Oh what a rally at 9-12! Sensational hold and flick from Liang in the middle of that rally, both pairs defending superbly.And then there is a mishit from Chirag actually proves fortuitous for the Indians! Lovely point, bizarre end. 

That Liang tumble serve... ah, the old tumble serve. A 10-6 lead for the Chinese players. 

The Indians win the serve back but can't hold as Liang-Wang take a 11-7 lead into the interval. 

As usual it has been a furious pace of gameplay. 

A terrific flick serve for Satwik and that should have been a point for the Indians but Chirag rushes at a smash and nets the shuttle. 

A furious flat rally follows... which is usually the strength of the Chinese players... but the Indians do well to win that point. 

And next rally, it is Liang's turn to show off his big smashing skills from the back court. Down the middle once more. 

The Indians have caught up quickly at 3-3. Chirag with a powerful smash while backtracking. 

The Chinese have opened up another small lead at 6-3 as the Indians are struggling a bit with the length at the moment. 

Now Liang-Wang's error gives the serve back to Chirag. But the Indians are not able to sustain it at the moment. 

Then comes Satwik's stunning smash down the middle, signature power! 

Wang to serve, and they start off with a couple of points. 

It will be all fast and furious in men's doubles as usual. 

The Indians get on board after a complete air-shot from Wang. 

And then a bizarre service error from Chirag. 

WE ARE ALL SET. This should be a cracker. 

Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik await the winners of this match. And the Malaysians have come through a thriller 26-24 in their match, wowza!

It's been an ever-entertaining rivalry between Satwik-Chirag and Liang-Wang. And today is the 9th meeting, with Liang and Wang leading 6-2. 

This has been an incredibly quick performance from Tan-Thinaah. Not long left for Satwik-Chirag now.

Satwik-Chirag will be on court after the upcoming women's doubles match.

China's dangerous leftie floater Weng Hong Yang defeats the big home hopeful Alex Lanier in men's singles round 3.

World Championships 2013:   
Round 3: [10] PV Sindhu 21-18 / 23-21 Wang Yihan [2]
Quarterfinal: [10] PV Sindhu 21-18 / 21-17 Wang Shixian [7]

World Championships 2014: 
Quarter-final: [11] PV Sindhu 19-21 / 21-19 / 21-15 Wang Shixian [2]

World Championships 2015 
Round 3: [11] PV Sindhu 21-17 / 14-21 / 21-17 Li Xuerui [3]

World Championships 2017:
Quarterfinal: [4] PV Sindhu 21-14 / 21-9 Sun Yu [5]
Semifinal: [4] PV Sindhu 21-13 / 21-10 Chen Yufei [9]

World Championships 2019   
Semifinal: [5] PV Sindhu 21-7 / 21-14 Chen Yufei [4]

World Championships 2025: 
Round 3: [15] PV Sindhu 21-19, 21-15 Wang Zhiyi [2]

Here’s a list of all the Chinese Sindhu has beaten at World Championships – Li Xuerui, Wang Yihan, Wang Shixian (twice) and Chen Yufei (twice). Not that she needed extra motivation, for she’s also beaten Tai Tzu-Ying and Nozomi Okuhara at the Worlds, but on the biggest stage, the Chinese have found her especially formidable and tough to get past, with the pressure of doing well bearing down on them too. The belief is always extraordinary in Sindhu that she can get past anyone at Worlds – because she simply has done it before.

Shivani Naik

Cometh the hour, cometh…. Strike that. Translate to Indianese: Cometh the Badminton World Championships, Cometh PV Sindhu, and her Chinese-slaying game. It fetches up, without missing a beat. Chinese women’s singles’ ‘Sindhu from Yindu’ curse simply doesn’t relent, and on Thursday in Paris, it was World No.2 Wang Zhi Yi utterly befuddled and reeling from the powerful attack and aggression that Sindhu dished out in a 21-19, 21-15 minute demolition of pristine vintage.

Read more by Shivani Naik here.

Earlier today, Dhruv-Tanisha came from a game down to topple the reigning Asian champions with a determined fightback. "We had a rough run a couple of months back. I think we are building together, step by step, slowly, slowly we are getting there. Really happy with the way we played today," Tanisha told BWF. "We came prepared, prepared better this time. We didn't give up at any point in the match. Even after we lost the first set, we didn't let it get to us. We fought back even harder in the second and third. We kept pushing each other till the end, till the last shot. I think that was the real game changer today."

The Indian duo had endured a patchy start to the year, losing in the round of 16 at the Malaysia Open and India Open, before reaching the semifinals at the German Open in February. However, early exits at the Orleans Masters and All England Championships followed. Dhruv spoke about the turnaround. "We started really good in the beginning of the year, two tournaments didn't go well. There was no technical problem, but the main thing was we kept on supporting each other and came prepared well. Previously when we were losing the first game we were mentally down, but today we stayed strong," he said.

Via PTI 

PV Sindhu to BWF

I think at the end of the day, you know, sometimes, I think last year, or this year, in the beginning, it was not a good run for me, there were lots of ups and downs, and also there were injuries, where you know, I was wanting to win, but you know, things have not actually happened, according to what I wanted.

The training that I've done, or you know, after the earlier round exits, you know, me and my coach actually discussed, what's happening, or what is going on wrong, and I think we've been focusing on that, and we've been practicing that, and even my coach has told me one thing, you know, just play your game, and give your best, you know, irrespective of the result, whatever it is, just play your game, and give your best.

I just came into this tournament, thinking that, you know, I have to give my best, and that's all that mattered for me.

Satwik-Chirag vs Liang-Wang at around 10.30 pm IST 

A longer 8-minute version.

Sindhu thus extended her remarkable record against Chinese shuttlers at the Worlds, having previously beaten Wang Yihan (2013), Wang Shixian (2014), Li Xuerui (2015), Sun Yu (2017) and Chen Yufei (2017 and 2019) in earlier editions.

"It's just one match at a time for me. I never thought about two rounds ahead or one round ahead. For me, it's not over yet. I need to come back tomorrow much stronger, and be prepared for everything," she added.

(PTI)

PV Sindhu to BWF:

Well, for me, I think it was like any other player, is what I felt, because when I went into the court, I know it's not going to be easy, and World Championships, I think from the first round, it's never easy, you have to fight for every point, every rally, so for me also, it was like any other player. Of course she is a top athlete, she has a very good run, but not thinking that in the mind, I think for me, it was a complete, altogether fresh match for me

Highlights of PV SINDHU's superb performance today against Wang Zhi Yi

Pusarla V. Sindhu ?? faces up to No.2 seed Wang Zhi Yi ??. #BWFWorldChampionships #Paris2025 pic.twitter.com/8Vmqvglun8

— BWF (@bwfmedia) August 28, 2025

From PV Sindhu's interview with the Indian Express earlier this year...

You won your first World Championships medal as a teen in 2013. Do you think that's an underrated achievement? 

It was one of my first major medals. It's a big tournament, and not everyone can win a medal there. It's a great achievement, especially at that point in my career. It was definitely a starting point where I realized I could achieve more. That's how it all started.

It showed you were meant for bigger things, right?

Definitely. It was one of the biggest achievements when I started playing badminton. Winning the World Championships at 18 is significant, and it set the stage for my future success. I beat two top Chinese players in that tournament.

? Upset alert at #Paris2025! ?#BWFWorldChampionships pic.twitter.com/0TaPFZFEOo

— BWF (@bwfmedia) August 28, 2025

Here's a quick overview of Sindhu's record against Wardani, the Indian lost earlier this year against one of the most improved players on tour. Won't be easy. But Sindhu... if she can ensure a good recovery... should fancy her chances.

PV Sindhu will next face Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia in the quarterfinal. One win away from ensuring an incredible SIXTH Worlds medal. Her reaction after the win against Wang was telling too, a big roar, arm went up, and then quickly composed herself. 

Stay tuned... Satwik-Chirag are in action later in the night. 

In the meanwhile, we will have some reactions from Dhruv-Tanisha and PV Sindhu soon.