Satwik-Chirag vs Chen-Liu, BWF World Championships 2025 Semifinal Highlights: SatChi go down in 3 games; finish with bronze

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Finals up for grabs as Chen/Liu ?? take on Rankireddy/Shetty ??. #BWFWorldChampionships #Paris2025 pic.twitter.com/u3vV4y9QJh

— BWF (@bwfmedia) August 31, 2025

Satwik-Chirag return from Paris with their 2nd Worlds medal. Not to be today, as Chen-Liu wins in three games, thanks to a sensational start in the decider.

And so it is Bronze medal No 2 at the Worlds for Satwik-Chirag.

Won in Tokyo 2022, after missing out at the Tokyo Olympics

Won in Paris 2025, after missing out at the Paris Olympics

Liu wears pink cartoon socks and is like that snarling nasty character from comic strips. But he's pulled this one towards the Chinese single-handedly. Formidable opponent that one.

Shivani Naik

The Chinese duo done it! 11th seeds and into the World Championships final. What a run! Satwik's drive goes long and it is joy for Chen and Liu. 

One match point saved by Satwik going all out on the attack. 

Two match points saved. 

Service error from Chirag, the shuttle is short and the Chinese are 2 points away. 

Satwik gets the serve back after Chirag's smash sets up a loose lift and Satwik puts it away.

But it goes right back. 10 match points for Chinese. Another service error from Satwik. Just plain nerves.

Flick serve again and Satwik goes back to return it well. Looks like broken strings for Satwik but he continues attacking and actually hits a winner from the net with the broken strings! 

Lucky net cord for Chirag... but they need MUCH MORE than just this occasional slice of luck. 

Wow, Chirag with some sensational defending early on in this rally, desperately keeping the shuttle in play. Satwik takes over after that and then the lift from Chinese side goes well wide. Need many of those. 

The Indians are playing a bit now like they have nothing to lose. A couple of lifts on defence and then comes the kill from the smashes. 

Liu called out by the umpire for trying to slow it down. 

But the Indians give the serve back. 

Comebacks are possible. But this feels too far for the Indians who have absolutely no momentum. A Satwik smash gives the serve back to them but it is that man Liu with another brilliant backhand at the net. 

Chirag makes a nervy service return error again. The flicks have completely messed with the Indians' heads. 

Liu with another great serve and the third shot is let go by the Indians, it lands in though.

Chirag pointed his index finger at his brain, and Coach Tan seemed to be saying "they are nothing...(To fear). 

The two operative parts of advice. Both the 32 shot rally and the final point proved the Indians needn't rush and can bide their time, play two shots extra and gain for themselves stable positions to attack from. And use placement. 
Liu is fired up though - starving him of shuttle is needed.

Phew, that was a nightmare start to decider. A 9-mare. 0-9. Now it's 4-14.

Shivani Naik

Good point for the Indians from the far side, a good flat exchange won by the Indians. 

Satwik and Chirag have to defend next rally... but eventually Liu puts one smash away from the front court almost. He is pumped. 

Oh dear, Satwik ends the rally with a shot into the net from front court after some really good defending early on from the Indians.

Liu IS ON FIRE. He has been the MVP of the last 10 minutes or so. A sensational return of serve touching the top of the net cord.

And it is a huge lead of 11-3 at the final change of ends. 

"Be ready for return, they are just going flick, flick, flick," says coach Tan. "A lot flicks..." Satwik agrees. 

Another flick serve from the Chinese, this time Chen. But Chirag manages to return and does well.

Chirag goes for the flick serve now and the Indians make it 3-10. 

Now Satwik with a nervy error from the net, gets too eager to kill the point and pushes the shuttle far too long.

And to make things worse, Chirag actually asks for a review. That is SO FAR OUT. 

A new longest rally of the match at 34 shots and the INDIANS FINALLY WIN A POINT. 

Ridiculous defending from the Chinese again but Satwik eventually is able to put away a smash. Phew. 

WOW. This is incredible. 

Satwik pushes the shuttle long with the service return. 

And now Chirag nets the shuttle on the return. This is sensational from the Chinese, especially Liu. 

OH WOW! Liu is completely fired up here! Another sensational backhand at the net and he is fired up. 

Damn, now it is 7-0 after another flick serve from Liu sends Chirag tumbling while backtracking. 

WHAT A START for the Chinese pair to the decider. A sensational backhand winner from Liu on the jump to make it 4-0, after his flick serve set up the point. 

Here's how Game 2 panned out. First two points to China at the start of Game 3 after Chirag makes a couple of errors.

"We are too much following them. Calm down yourselves. Don't go hit, hit, hit without thinking about it."

Some of the things that Coach Tan had to tell his wards. That's the most animated I have seen him! This is tense for everyone. 

WHAT A RALLY! WHAT A SENSATIONAL RALLY! 

Chirag steps up his shot quality just in time. A lovely flat exchange from all four players, but it is Chirag's racket-head change with a flat push that changed the course of the point, he came forward and put it away. 

LONGEST RALLY. 32 shots. What a time for it. Game points.

Soon enough, the Indians level it up! 

Good service return from Satwik and the third shot from the other side goes long beyond the backline. 

The Indians in the lead again... and what a moment for a slice of luck! Chirag hits the top of the net cord and the shuttle drops down on the other side. Hand up in apology. But they'd take it. 19-17.

Oh dear, another front-court from Chirag and it is 18-19.

Chen with a brilliant crosscourt smash, body attack on Satwik and he nets it. 

Back level at 17. 

OH WOW! This is really great defending. Chen keeps sending the shuttle back as Chirag smashes, smashes, smashes... and then comes the error. 

The Chinese have caught up! 

Satwik responds with a big booming smash. Much needed point. "Daring" heard again from Satwik. 

The Indians manage to eventually convince the chair umpire for some mopping of the court. 

They are feeling the heat here, you could sense it. 

Can they regather? Another flick serve from Chen! Wow, he is going big on this. Chirag returns it bit Satwik's block is loose from the frontcourt and it is put away. 

Indecision from Liu at the backcourt. Good lift that time from the Indians. 

Chirag tries to rotate from back to front next rally, and then ends up neetting the backhand. 

Chirag is not having the best time at the moment, another service return error. The gap is down 3. 

This time Satwik nets the return to a flick serve from Chen. Oh dear.

What a point! Chirag falls down as he backtracks to a flick serve and falls down on his backside. But quickly gets back up and the Indians win that point. Another booming smash from Satwik after a good touch at the net from Chirag, followed by "MAAR!" 

China picks its air-apparents in badminton carefully, always timing it with Olympic cycles. They aren't overtly fond of silver medals and Taiwanese Lin-Yang have been pains in their necks last few editions. So Chen-Liu were bound to be fast tracked after plenty of mix'n'matching at their national camp. Ignore the ranks, this pairing was built to take over from Liang Weikeng and Chang Wang. 

Chirag will step up to front court now, but the Indian defense will be half an attack of its own. They aren't the best rotators.

Shivani Naik

A good kill by Satwik at the net after a good side-by-side point from the Indians. 

Great defence from Satwik! A good scrambling lift then he comes forward to drive into the forehand corner. 

Sumeeth Reddy speaking to Satwik. Coach Tan speaking to Chirag. 

The Indians need to ensure they stay ahead and not let scoreboard pressure creep on them.

A fine point to start after the interval. The commentators have been calling for SatChi to vary the pace of play a bit, play soft at times to then attack... that's what they do in that rally. 

The Indians go into the interval in the lead again but this time just 2 points. 11-9. 

Oh dear. Chirag rushes his attempt to kill at the net and hits the shuttle down too quickly. Bad mistake.

He makes up for his next point with a terrific return to a flick serve, the pace on his shot sees the lift go long. 

Satwik has the serve back, and the Indians are pumped up after a good rally. The Indians lift initially, there is a clash of rackets, but Satwik's smash saves the point.

Oh dear, another service error from Satwik. This time hits the net. 

An important point for the Indians. "For Satwik-Chirag the key is going to be stealing time from the Chinese off their flat game," says Steen Pedersen. 

The Chinese get the serve back as Liu goes on the attack from back to front and kills with a body attack on Chirag despite broken strings. 

"Accha decisions lo, come on": Sumeeth Reddy

One thing is clear even as Indians drop the opening set, the Chinese are leaving huge gaps - half the court, since they both drift to the same side chasing the shuttle. Indians haven't capitalised. 
And Chen is China's response to Satwik-Chirag, his big attack built like them, or like their Twin Towers of 2021. Lifting to him is fatal. 

Shivani Naik

The gap is closing again. Chirag having to defend a lot as the Chinese rain down smashes but eventually his defence wilts. 

And the gap is down to 1 again... they are doing it once more. Satwik is on the defence this time and then Chirag's lift goes long. 

Momentum swings once more. 

Satwik pushes one too long and the Chinese have the serve back but only briefly. This time Satwik's smash from the backcourt sets up the point for Chirag at the net.

Oh dear. Completely miscommunication between the Indians. Chirag says mine, but Satwik too went for it. And it left an empty spot in the court that was found. Not often you see that from SatChi. 

That's a good sign as Satwik-Chirag go up 7-3 with the kind of flat rally they won a lot more yesterday. 

Oh dear, another service fault for height called on Satwik! Second one. 

Chirag does well from the front court to set up a smashing chance for Satwik and he finds the emptty corner of the court. More placement than power. 

A 5-1 lead for the Indians now as another lift goes wide for the Chinese. 

A complete turnaround. Satwik-Chirag appeared to be in control but Chen-Liu come from 5-11 down to take the opening game 21-19. The Chinese flat game clicked & they started dominating the service situations.

But a good start here in Game 2 for the Indians as they go up 3-1 after a lift goes long. 

A game of two halves if ever there was one.

Bissecting them is the way to go, and flatter game. Preferably faster. The Chinese are playing the hold flicks quite well. But aim for middle of court in between the Chinese and there's points to collect

Shivani Naik

WHAT A RALLY! The point of the match. And it is the Chinese win to take the opening game! 

WOW, some sensational defending by Satwik and Chirag but Chen nails a smash that rings around the arena for how well he hit it.

The Indians have somehow lost the opening game which they appeared to be in control of at the interval, leading 11-5. 

Chen lets the lift from Chirag go... and it is long. Three game points for the Chinese. 

One saved, as Chirag now leaves one well at the back line as Chen's lift goes long. 

Two saved! Satwik's serve is returned wide, Chirag then takes charge at the net! 

Can the Indians draw level? 

Slightly more respectable 24-shots is the count for the new longest rally! Hah. The Indians win that point. 

But Chen with a smash to split the differenence between the Indians to be 2-points away from the opening game. 

Chirag with a fine service return to get the serve back. 

HUGE POINT for the Indians. Satwik smashes and charges forward to the net and after some good defence, he puts it away. 

And Chirag's serve is brilliantly returned by Chen and the serve is back with the Chinese. 

This is a quandary. The Chinese are backing themselves to defend from the back corners so those lobs and lifts aren't working for Indians. Chen BY especially is happily looming on that back line. And four of the last 7 points India ceded have come from Satwik Chirag not quite nailing that elbow extension short wristy steep smash to front court.

Shivani Naik

Oh wow, Complete misjudgment from Chirag Shetty on the lift that loops over him and drops in... Chirag was right next to that. 

Two-point lead now. Not looking good for the Indians at this point. 

Chirag's flat push is called wide... he challenges... and it is wide. 3-point deficit. 

"Maar abhi," says Chirag mid-point after some good defence from him to set up the smash for Satwik from the backcourt.

And smash he does. And the Indians are pumped up after that point, needed that. 

16-shots is the longest rally of the match! You've got to laugh! As Gill Clark does. Men's doubles is crazy. 

That's four in the net after the break. Seven of the last eight points to the Chinese pair.

The Indians finally get the serve back... but not for long. Some really good defending from both Chirag and Satwik, crouching to deal with the smashes. But a sensational disguised drop from the backcourt by Chen wins the point.

And now the Chinese pair in the lead! Flick serve, Chirag responds well enough but the point goes to Chen-Liu. 

'Organised only'. Coach tan looks mighty pleased with the start. Just one advice -- push up, he tells the Indians.

Mihir Vasavda

Well, well... it's getting tight now. Liu's serve sets up another brilliant point, a third-shot winner. 

Make it 11-12;. another bad Indian error that one. Chirag rushes at the net with his backhand and smashes into the middle of the net almost. Should have won that point with the Chinese on defence struggling a bit. 

And make it 12-12! Oh wow. Satwik's mishit. 

Well, well... it's getting tight now. Liu's serve sets up another brilliant point, a third-shot winner. 

Make it 11-12;. another bad Indian error that one. Chirag rushes at the net with his backhand and smashes into the middle of the net almost. Should have won that point with the Chinese on defence struggling a bit. 

And make it 12-12! Oh wow. Satwik's mishit. 

Oh a bad miss from Satwik...strings broken as he tries to kill the rally with a midcourt smash. The point was there for the taking. 

A little bit of momentum building for the Chinese duo now. Liu's serve is superb, sets up a good flat point. Gap down to 3. 

Coach Tan Kim Her seems fairly pleased with the proceedings, not too many inputs in the mid-game interval.

"Organise," is a word he likes to use. 

Brilliant placement from Chirag to find the deep backhand corner. 

That fast, dipping smash from Chirag to go 5-1 up... Then deft net play at 8-2. He looks to be in the mood, chips in Mihir Vasavda.

This time Liu nails a flatter smash from the backcourt, going crosscourt. The Chinese closing the gap down now. Satwik misjudges the length but manages to keep the shuttle in play but Chen's smashes get the point for Chinese who make it 5-9.

But Chirag with a brutal kill at the net after good work from Satwik in the frontcourt.

Chirag then finishes off a loose lift with a smash and six -point lead for Indians at the interval. 

A terrific start for Indians. 

A couple of complete mishit smashes from the backcourt by Liu, seemed to lose the flight of the shuttle. 

Chirag's serve is broken, but Satwik has the serve again after a superb attacking point from him, a terrific backtracking smash sets up the point for the Indians. 

A service fault from Satwik for height... good to get it out of the way early I guess! 

We are all set!  

Chinese men's doubles is known for the flat parallel gameplay. Satwik-Chirag showed they could deal with that against Chia-Soh. 

The Indians, though they have said there are no underdogs in the semifinals, will start favourites here. 

Big cheers for both pairs as the names are announced. Paris is still producing the volume. 

Here's Satwik-Chirag's road to the semifinals. Two HUGE wins against Liang-Wang and Aaron-Soh. The Olympic silver medallists, then their old foes.

Here's Chen-Liu's road to the semifinal... the quarter of the draw opened up after the early defeat for Goh-Izzuddin.