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Liang and Wang End Satwik-Chirag’s World Championships Medal Run
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty played Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang from China in a badminton quarterfinal.
The match was held at the 2026 World Championships in New Delhi.
The Indian pair played well early and led 18-16 in the first game.
The Chinese pair then scored five points in a row and won that game 21-18.
They also took control of the second game and won it 21-9.
Satwik and Chirag made several mistakes and had trouble finding their rhythm.
One report said Satwik’s shoulder problem may have made some shots harder to play.
Their loss ended India’s men’s doubles campaign, while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand stayed in the tournament after reaching the women’s doubles semifinals.
China’s Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang defeated India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty 21-18, 21-9 in the men’s doubles quarterfinal.
The Indians led 18-16 in the opening game before Liang and Wang won five consecutive points to take it 21-18.
Liang and Wang controlled the second game, building an 11-5 interval lead as the Indian pair struggled with errors and lost momentum.
Reports listed the match duration as either 35 or 36 minutes, while one report said Satwik’s shoulder issue appeared to restrict some shots.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated China’s Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian to reach the women’s doubles semifinals and secure at least a bronze medal.
- Who
- India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, and China’s Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang; Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also competed in the tournament.
- What
- Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang defeated Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in straight games, while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand reached the women’s doubles semifinals.
- Where
- The BWF World Championships at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
- When
- Friday, August 21, 2026.
- Why
- Liang and Wang capitalized on India’s errors and maintained momentum, while Satwik and Chirag could not recover in the second game.
Indian Pair’s Perspective
Chinese Pair’s Performance
Match momentum
Indian Pair’s Perspective
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty stayed competitive early, led 18-16 in the opening game and held an 11-10 interval lead according to reports.
Chinese Pair’s Performance
Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang remained composed, overturned the deficit and controlled the second game after leading 11-5 at the interval.
Reasons for the result
Indian Pair’s Perspective
The Indian pair struggled to regain rhythm, made errors around the net and may have been hampered by Satwik’s reported shoulder issue.
Chinese Pair’s Performance
The Chinese pair’s attacking play and ability to counter India’s shots created pressure and allowed them to capitalize on mistakes.
Key facts
- Men’s quarterfinal score
- Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang defeated Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty 21-18, 21-9.
- Reported match duration
- The men’s quarterfinal was reported as lasting 35 or 36 minutes.
- World rankings
- Liang and Wang were identified as the world No. 3 pair, while Satwik and Chirag were the world No. 5 pair.
- Opening-game turning point
- India led 18-16, but China won five consecutive points to take the game 21-18.
- Women’s quarterfinal score
- Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian 16-21, 21-15, 21-13.
- Medal status
- Treesa and Gayatri reached the semifinals and were assured of at least a bronze medal.
- Previous Indian men’s medals
- Satwik and Chirag had won bronze medals at the 2022 and 2025 World Championships.
Quotes
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
Indian men’s doubles badminton player who partnered Chirag Shetty in the match
“They were everywhere. Wherever we were hitting, they would counter it.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
BWF World Championships: Satwik-Chirag suffer heartbreaking loss in quarterfinals to Chinese pair
BWF World Championships: Satwik-Chirag Pair Loses To Wang and Liang in Quarters
Satwik-Chirag pair loses in quarters
World Championships: Liang-Wang Beat Satwik-Chirag, Indian Pair Miss Semi-Final Spot
‘They were everywhere’: Satwik-Chirag miss out on World Championships medal
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