Singapore: Indian badminton stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty produced a remarkable comeback performance to defeat the world’s top-ranked men’s doubles pair and secure a historic place in the final of the Singapore Open Super 750 tournament on Saturday.
The fourth-seeded Indian duo overcame reigning world champions Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae 21-19, 21-18 in a thrilling semi-final that lasted 52 minutes. The victory marked their first-ever win over the formidable South Korean combination and earned them a maiden appearance in the Singapore Open men’s doubles final.
Indians fight back after slow start
The semi-final proved to be a stern test for the Indian pair, with the Koreans displaying the form that has made them the world’s No. 1 men’s doubles team.
In the opening game, Kim and Seo held a narrow 13-11 advantage at the mid-game interval and appeared to be in control. However, Satwik and Chirag remained composed and gradually raised the intensity of their play.
The Indians produced a strong finish to the game, winning crucial rallies during the closing stages to overturn the deficit and clinch the opener 21-19.
Their ability to remain patient under pressure proved decisive as they gained a valuable one-game advantage.
Composure seals historic victory
The second game followed a similar pattern, with the South Korean pair once again putting the Indians under pressure.
After the interval, Satwik and Chirag trailed 11-14 and faced the prospect of being pushed into a deciding game. However, the Indian duo responded with determination and tactical discipline.
They began winning key exchanges at the net, reduced unforced errors and capitalised on important opportunities to shift momentum in their favour.
Maintaining their composure during the crucial stages of the contest, the Indians closed out the second game 21-18 to complete a memorable straight-game victory.
The result makes them the first Indian men’s doubles pair to reach the final of the Singapore Open.
Title clash awaits
With the victory, Satwik and Chirag have moved one step closer to another major international title.
The Indian duo will now face the winners of the other semi-final between Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in Sunday’s championship match.
A victory in the final would further strengthen their position among the world’s leading men’s doubles pairs and add another prestigious title to their growing list of achievements.
Mixed doubles campaign ends
Earlier in the tournament, India’s mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto saw their impressive run come to an end in the semi-finals.
The Indian pair suffered a 16-21, 21-17, 13-21 defeat against Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami and Sayaka Hobara.
After losing the opening game, Dhruv and Tanisha fought back strongly to claim the second game and force a decider. However, they were unable to sustain the momentum in the final game as the Japanese pair sealed victory and advanced to the final.
Despite the defeat, the Indian duo’s run to the semi-finals was considered a positive performance and another encouraging sign for Indian badminton on the international stage.
Boost for Indian badminton
Satwik and Chirag’s achievement continues a strong period for Indian badminton, with the pair consistently delivering high-level performances in major international tournaments.
Their victory over the world No. 1 pair underlines their ability to compete with the best in the world and provides further confidence ahead of future competitions.
As they prepare for the title clash, Indian badminton fans will be hoping the duo can cap off their impressive campaign by lifting the Singapore Open crown.