After more than two months away from the BWF World Tour, India’s star men’s doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty marked their return in dominant fashion at the KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2025.
The former World No. 1 pair eased past Malaysia’s Choong Hon Jian and Muhammad Haikal 21-16, 21-13 in just 35 minutes, sending a strong message to the rest of the field — the Brothers of Destruction are back.
There was an air of anticipation and relief among Indian badminton fans as Satwik-Chirag walked onto court after an extended break from competitive action. Their time away had sparked concerns over rhythm and match sharpness, but those doubts were quickly put to rest.
From the very first point, the Indian pair looked sharp, communicating seamlessly, controlling the net, and unleashing their signature explosive smashes. The Malaysian duo, ranked World No. 65, put up a fight in patches but struggled to match the tempo and precision of the Indians.
A 21-16 opening game win set the tone, and SatChi didn’t let their foot off the pedal. They tightened the screws further in the second, racing away with a 21-13 finish.
This victory not only puts them into the Round of 16 of this Super 750 event but also signals what could be the beginning of another dominant run on the World Tour.
What’s Next: Tough Test Ahead
Satwik and Chirag now await the winner of the clash between Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa/Yuta Yamashita and Indonesia’s Pramudya Kusumawardana Isfahani/Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan. Either pairing will pose a stiffer challenge, but the Indians have historically shown the ability to raise their level as the rounds progress.
Indian Campaign: Mixed Fortunes on Day 1
Elsewhere at the Singapore Open, it was a mixed bag for Indian shuttlers:
- In Women’s Singles, Aakarshi Kashyap put up a spirited fight but went down 17-21, 21-13, 7-21 to China’s Han Yue in a roller-coaster match.
- Lakshya Sen battled hard in Men’s Singles, but was edged out 21-15, 17-21, 13-21 by Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chun-Yi.
- In a positive result in Mixed Doubles, the Indian pair of Rohan Kapoor and Gadde Ruthvika Shivani won convincingly 21-16, 21-19 over the American duo of Zhi Yi Chen and Francesca Corbett.
- A surprising and unfortunate moment came in Women’s Doubles, where the experienced Japanese pair Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida gave a walkover to India’s Amrutha Pramuthesh and Sonali Singh. The Indian pair advanced to R16 without taking to the court, and the badminton world now hopes for a swift recovery for Nami and Shida.
For Indian badminton fans, the return of Satwik and Chirag is more than just another result — it’s a shot of optimism. After an injury-plagued few months, seeing the World No. 1s back in form is the kind of momentum India needs ahead of key tournaments in the coming months.
Their journey in Singapore will not just be about match wins but a chance to regain rhythm, reassert dominance, and inspire confidence heading into the summer season.
With SatChi back in action and firing, the tour has found its spark again. Their roar has returned — and it may just echo across arenas for months to come.
