Indian
This triumph marks the second title of the season for the Indian pair, who previously tasted success at the Singapore Open Super 750 and reached the final of the Thailand Open Super 500. For Rankireddy and Shetty, the win serves as a significant confidence booster as they prepare for their upcoming Asian Games campaign in Japan.
A Tale of Two Halves
The final began with the Chinese pair, ranked world No. 70, dictating the tempo through aggressive, high-speed exchanges. He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu dominated the opening game, racing to a 5-0 lead and maintaining their momentum to close it out 21-11. The Indians struggled to counter the fast-paced, flat attacks and thunderous smashes that defined the Chinese pair's early dominance.
However, the narrative shifted dramatically in the second game. Rankireddy and Shetty tightened their defensive structure and successfully extended the rallies, forcing their opponents into uncharacteristic errors. By incorporating tactical flick serves and increasing the length of exchanges—including a pivotal 45-shot rally—the Indians turned the tide. They surged ahead to take the second game 21-13, forcing a decider.
Decisive Final Push
The third game proved to be a tense affair, with the Chinese pair initially regaining their composure to lead 7-3. Undeterred, Rankireddy and Shetty clawed their way back to level the score at 7-7. The match remained a tight contest, with both sides trading points in high-intensity, flat-court exchanges.
The turning point arrived late in the decider as the Indians leveled the score at 16-16. From there, Rankireddy and Shetty seized the initiative, moving to 18-17 before a net cord provided them with three match-point opportunities. Shetty ultimately sealed the championship with a decisive smash, capping off a successful week for the duo in their third final appearance of the year.
