2025 BWF World Tour Finals: A look at Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s group stage obstacles

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will be in action for a final time in 2025 at the BWF World Tour Finals. The tournament is scheduled to take place between December 17 and 21 in Hangzhou, China and fans are guaranteed some exciting badminton as the world's top eight singles players and doubles pairs go head-to-head in a battle for ultimate glory.

For Rankireddy and Shetty, this marks their second appearance at the Tour Finals. The Indians were last seen at the event in 2021. Back then, the duo failed to make it past their group stage matches. This time around, Rankireddy and Shetty arrive in Hangzhou as the third seeds and the former World No.1 pair will be keen to end their 2025 season on a high.

For the upcoming challenge, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have been placed in Group B alongside Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Soh Woi Yik, China's Liang Wei Kang and Wang Chang, as well as Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri. All three pairs have proven to be trouble for the Indians in the past.

2025 BWF World Tour Finals: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty's head-to-head record against their group stage opponents

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have been handed an undoubtedly difficult start to their campaign at the BWF World Tour Finals. The Indians have a losing record against all three of their group stage opponents and they'll need to be at the top of their game in order to make it through to the semifinals.

One of their most tricky foes will be Aaron Chia and Soh Woi Yik. Rankireddy and Shetty hold a 5-11 head-to-head record against the Malaysians and they often struggle to keep up with Chia and Yik’s domineering gameplay. However, the silver lining of the situation is the fact that the Indians have beaten the second seeds in their last two meetings.

Rankireddy and Shetty will also have a difficult time against Liang Wei Kang and Wang Chang. The Indians have lost seven of their ten encounters against the Chinese pair and will need a more resolute attack if they want to overcome this particular obstacle.

Last but not least, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty's final hurdle at the BWF World Tour Finals will be the fresh pairing of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri. The Indians faced off against the Indonesians at the Australian Open in November earlier this year and lost that encounter in straight games.

Edited by Riddhi Acharya