India’s men’s doubles pairs made a positive start at the BWF Swiss Open Super 300 tournament, with both Satwiksairaj Rankireddy–Chirag Shetty and Arjun MR–Hariharan Amsakarunan progressing to the Round of 16 after hard-fought wins in their opening matches.
While the top-seeded duo of Satwik and Chirag had to survive a tense encounter against their Singaporean opponents, Arjun and Hariharan produced a confident performance to overcome a higher-ranked Taiwanese pair and move into the next round.
However, it was a mixed day overall for India as women’s doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela were forced to retire midway through their opening-round match.
Satwik–Chirag Survive Opening Round Test
Top seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, currently ranked World No. 4, were pushed hard by the Singaporean pairing of Wesley Koh and Kubo Junsuke before sealing a 21–19, 21–19 victory in straight games. Despite entering the match as favourites, the Indian pair found themselves under pressure throughout the contest. The Singaporeans matched the Indians in pace and shot selection, forcing Satwik and Chirag to work for every point.
The first game remained tight from start to finish. Both pairs traded points and neither could establish a clear lead. Satwik and Chirag eventually held their nerve in the closing stages, edging ahead to take the opening game 21–19.
The second game followed a similar pattern. Koh and Kubo continued to challenge the top seeds with aggressive net play and quick defensive transitions. However, Satwik and Chirag relied on their experience and attacking firepower to close out another narrow 21–19 win.
Although the performance was not their most dominant, the victory ensured the Indian pair safely progressed to the pre-quarterfinal stage. For Satwik and Chirag, the Swiss Open represents another opportunity to build rhythm and confidence as they aim to maintain their position among the world’s elite men’s doubles teams.
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India’s second men’s doubles pair in action, Arjun MR and Hariharan Amsakarunan, also delivered an impressive performance in their opening-round match. The Indian duo defeated the Chinese Taipei pair of Chen Zhi and Lin Yu, who were ranked World No. 37, with a 21–16, 24–22 victory.
Arjun and Hariharan looked confident from the start, taking control of the rallies and applying pressure through their attacking play. Their aggressive approach helped them secure the opening game 21–16. The second game, however, proved far more challenging.
The Taiwanese pair fought back strongly and pushed the Indians to the limit in a tightly contested battle. Arjun and Hariharan were forced to save five game points as their opponents attempted to force a deciding game.
Demonstrating excellent composure under pressure, the Indian duo fought back to win crucial points and eventually sealed the match 24–22, completing the victory in straight games.
The win marks a strong start for the pair and reinforces their growing confidence on the international circuit.
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With these victories, both Indian men’s doubles pairs have successfully advanced to the Round of 16 at the Swiss Open 2026. For Satwik and Chirag, expectations remain high given their status as the top seeds in the tournament. The duo has been one of India’s most successful badminton partnerships in recent years and will be aiming to make a deep run in the competition.
Meanwhile, Arjun and Hariharan will look to build on their momentum as they continue their campaign against higher-ranked opponents.
Setback in Women’s Doubles
While the men’s doubles pairs enjoyed success, India suffered a setback in the women’s doubles category. The promising pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela were forced to retire midway through their match, ending their campaign prematurely. The retirement was an unfortunate development for the Indian duo, who have been among the country’s most consistent women’s doubles pairs in recent years.
The Swiss Open also features a strong Indian presence in the singles events. In men’s singles, India is represented by HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Ayush Shetty, Kiran George, and Tharun Mannepalli, while the women’s singles challenge includes Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda, and Malvika Bansod.
With multiple Indian players competing across categories, the tournament provides an important platform for India’s badminton contingent to gain valuable ranking points and international experience.
As the tournament progresses, attention will remain firmly on Satwik and Chirag, who are among the favourites to contend for the title. However, the opening-round scare serves as a reminder that competition in international badminton remains fierce, even against lower-ranked opponents.
For Arjun and Hariharan, their strong start provides a confidence boost as they attempt to continue their progress on the BWF World Tour. With both men’s doubles pairs advancing to the next stage, India has begun its Swiss Open 2026 campaign on a promising note, keeping hopes alive for a deep run in the prestigious Super 300 tournament.
