Satwik-Chirag retire from first round, pull out of Indonesia Open due to Satwik's shoulder injury
Jakarta, June 3
Indian star shuttlers Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty's Indonesia Open campaign came to an end early in the first round of the men's doubles after the former was struggling with a right shoulder niggle.
The world no. 4 pair were trailing 6-11 in the first game against the Malaysian pair Kang Khai Xing & Aaron Tai when Satwik pointed to his right shoulder, which has been bothering him for a while, and the duo gave a walkover to their opponents on Wednesday.
"Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have withdrawn from the Indonesia Open 2026 due to the former's injury. The pair will now focus on recovery and rehabilitation as they prepare for the important tournaments ahead. We wish Satwik a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing the duo back on court soon," BAI said in a statement.
Satwik's recurring shoulder issue had previously led to the pair's withdrawal from the Badminton Asia Championship earlier this year.
Last week, the duo battled back from a game down to defeat Indonesian pair Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 18-21, 21-17, 21-16, becoming the first men's pair from India to win the Singapore Open.
Meanwhile, the mixed doubles duo of Rohan Kapoor & Ruthvika Gadde started strong at the BWF Super 1000 event, defeating the world No. 20 Taipie pair of Yang Po-Hsuan and Hu Ling Fang to book their place in the next round.
On Tuesday, world No. 10 Lakshya Sen crashed out of the tournament after losing his first-round match to Alwi Farhan of Indonesia, while two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, who returned to the top 10 for the first time since October 2023 this week, beat Thailand's world No. 19 Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the first round.
In the men's doubles, the Indian pair of Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun upset Malaysia's Tan Wee Kiong, a Rio 2016 men's doubles silver medallist, and Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub in the opening round.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good that they didn't push it and risk long-term damage. They just won Singapore Open so form is there. Take rest and come back stronger. But honestly, BAI should have managed his workload better throughout the year.
This recurring shoulder issue is worrying. Remember how Saina's knee injury cut short her prime? BAI needs to learn from past mistakes. But credit to Satwik-Chirag for the Singapore win - world class comeback. 🇮🇳
Disappointing but sensible decision. Satwik is our most attacking doubles player - need him fully fit. Meanwhile, great to see Rohan Kapoor & Ruthvika Gadde stepping up! Mixed doubles is looking promising.
Can't help but feel frustrated - we have the talent but injuries keep derailing us. First Lakshya Sen loses early, now this. At least Sindhu is back in top 10 and Hariharan-Arjun pulled off an upset! Mixed feelings today. 😕
The Singapore Open win showed what this pair is capable of when fit. Smart call to pull out - no point risking the shoulder for one tournament when bigger targets await. BAI's medical team needs to sort this out properly though. Consistent top 4 ranking is no joke.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.