Singapore Open 2026: Satwik-Chirag upset reigning world champions to reach men's doubles final
Singapore, May 30
India's top men's doubles combination of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty knocked off world champions Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of Korea in straight games to reach the final of the Singapore Open Super 750 tournament on Saturday.
The fourth-seeded Indian pair registered their first victory over the Korean duo in three meetings, winning the semifinal clash 21-19, 21-18 in 52 minutes to reach their second World Tour final of the year.
The 2025 World Championships bronze medallists had finished runners-up at the Thailand Open earlier this year.
In the semifinal on Saturday, Satwik and Chirag fought back after conceding early leads in both games against the Koreans.
The Indian combination trailed 8-13 and then 13-17 in the opening game but held their nerves under pressure to clinch the game.
Chirag Shetty said that even when they were trailing, he and his partner stayed calm and trusted their game plan, believing that their opponents would eventually make mistakes if they remained patient and consistent.
"When we were down, we kept calm and backed ourselves because we knew if we stuck to our plan, they would crack at some point," Chirag said.
The second game also saw the Indians trailing 11-14 before they clinched six straight points to take a 17-14 lead and then maintained that advantage to reach the finals.
On facing Kim/Seo, Chirag added: "They have the best defense on the circuit right now. We knew we had to stay calm and steady, especially when attacking."
Satwik and Chirag will now face the third seeds, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri of Indonesia.
Meanwhile, the challenge of the Indian mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto ended in the semifinals after a 16-21, 21-17, 13-21 loss to Japan's Yuichi Shimogami and Sayaka Hobara.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally they beat the Koreans! Kim and Seo have been a nightmare for Indian pairs, but today was different. Chirag's game management in crucial moments was top-notch. Hoping they carry this momentum into the final and break the Super 750 jinx! 🙌
Impressive win, but I still think they need to work on their consistency. They've lost to lower-ranked pairs in early rounds before. Today's fightback was great, but they started slow yet again. For a world-class pair, giving away leads like that is a bit worrying. Hope they fix this before the Asian Games.
Satwik's smashes are just 🔥! But more than that, I love how Chirag orchestrates the game at the net. Their synergy is something else. Also, the release mentioned bronze at World Championships 2025 - we need to convert those into gold now! Come on, boys! 💪
So proud of our Indian shuttlers! From Saina Nehwal to Sindhu, and now Satwik-Chirag carrying the legacy forward. Badminton in India is truly on the rise. The way they handled the world champions' defense shows how much they've improved tactically. All the best for the final! 🏆
Great win for Satwik-Chirag, but it's disappointing that Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto couldn't make it to the final. They've been improving too. Mixed doubles in India needs more attention and support from the federation. But for
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