India’s star men’s doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty showcased their resilience and tactical maturity as they booked a spot in the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Open Super 500 on Thursday.
The former world No. 1 pair, nicknamed the “brothers of destruction,” had to dig deep after a shaky start but eventually found their rhythm to overcome Thailand’s Pakkapon Sukphun and Peeratchai Teeraratsakul 18-21, 21-15, 21-11. The Thai combination, ranked 42nd in the world, came out with nothing to lose and played with freedom in the opening game. Their flat exchanges and sharp attacking play unsettled Satwik and Chirag, who struggled to assert control at the front court.
The Indians looked slightly out of rhythm, with Satwik not as dominant at the net as usual, while Chirag shouldered the responsibility of trying to wrestle back momentum. Despite a late surge, the Indians could not close the gap and conceded the first game 18-21.
Tactical Shifts Turn the Tide
From the second game, however, the match completely changed complexion. The Indians identified what wasn’t working and adjusted their approach. Instead of engaging in flat drives where the Thai pair were thriving, Satwik-Chirag began to vary the pace, introducing steep smashes, softer drops, and quicker interceptions. At 10-10 in the second game, the contest was finely balanced, but Chirag’s proactive front-court play and Satwik’s growing presence in attack allowed the Indians to pull away. They won the game 21-15, taking the tie into a decider.
With the momentum firmly on their side, the Indians shifted into top gear in the third game. Their confidence soared as their tactical adjustments paid off Satwik started finding his touch at the net while Chirag dictated rallies with quick reflexes and smart interceptions. The Thai pair, unable to match the Indians’ intensity and variations, quickly fell behind.
Satwik-Chirag sealed the contest 21-11 in the decider, completing a comeback that underlined both their adaptability and composure under pressure.
Quarterfinal Challenge Awaits
The victory sets up a quarterfinal clash against Malaysia’s Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap, an improving young pair who recently captured the Macau Open title. While the Indians will start as favorites, the Malaysian duo has been making steady progress and will present a tricky challenge with their aggressive, fast-paced style. For Satwik-Chirag, the key will once again lie in staying sharp tactically and ensuring they start stronger than they did against the Thai pair. Given their track record at Super 500 and higher-level tournaments, the Indian duo will look to push deeper into the draw as they continue their campaign in Hong Kong.
Satwik and Chirag have been India’s most consistent badminton performers over the last two years, collecting prestigious titles including the Indonesia Open Super 1000 (2023) and Asian Games gold (2023). Their ability to adapt mid-match, as seen against Sukphun and Teeraratsakul, is one of the qualities that keeps them among the very best in the world.
The quarterfinal in Hong Kong is not just another step forward in this tournament it is another opportunity for the Indians to sharpen their game against rising opponents and reinforce their stature as genuine medal contenders heading into the bigger events of the season.
