In a gutsy display of grit and composure, Indian men’s doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty—fondly known as Satwik Chirag or SatChi—powered their way into the quarterfinals of the KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2025
Defeating the eighth-seeded Indonesian pair Pramudya Kusumawardana Gutama and Yeremia Rambitan Isfahani 19-21, 21-16, 21-19 in a thrilling Round of 16 clash.
Victory Over WR-8 Despite Rustiness
It wasn’t a flawless performance from the second-seeded Indians, who are making their return to the circuit following an injury layoff. The signs of rust were evident, particularly in the opening game, where they struggled to find rhythm and timing. Satwik, especially, seemed slightly off his usual explosive pace, while the pair overall made several uncharacteristic errors—perhaps a clear indication of match fitness still being a work in progress.
The Indonesians capitalized early, taking the first game 21-19. But what makes SatChi such a formidable pair on the world stage is their ability to bounce back—and they did just that. With renewed focus and improved court coverage, the Indians stormed back in the second game, winning it 21-16 to level the match.
Holding Their Nerve in the Decider
The deciding game was a tense affair, with both pairs locked in an intense neck-and-neck battle. Gutama and Isfahani, ranked World No. 8, played with confidence, but it was SatChi who held their nerve when it mattered most. A crucial late-game push saw them edge ahead at 19-all, and they closed out the contest with a calmness that belied their recent return from injury.
Final scoreline: 19-21, 21-16, 21-19 in 64 minutes of high-quality badminton.
Quarterfinal Challenge Ahead
With the win, Satwik and Chirag have advanced to the quarterfinals, where they will face Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin, a tricky pair known for their speed and flat exchanges. Given the current form and slight under-confidence visible in the Indian camp, the Malaysians will not be an easy hurdle to cross.
However, with a match under their belt and valuable time on court, the Indian pair will be hoping to build momentum and iron out the unforced errors that plagued their R16 performance.
Fans Backing the Brothers of Indian Badminton
Despite not being at their peak, SatChi’s win has reignited hopes among fans. The “Brothers of Indian Badminton” continue to inspire with their fighting spirit, and their journey in Singapore is being closely followed by Indian supporters who know what this pair is capable of when fully fit.
Social media was abuzz with reactions:
“Lack of match fitness clearly visible… but they held their nerve.”
“They’re nowhere near their best, but winning ugly is still winning!”
“All well that ends well—good luck for the QF!”
Mixed Doubles: Early Exit for Rohan and Ruthvika
On a tougher note for Indian fans, the mixed doubles pairing of Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde bowed out in the Round of 16. They were defeated in straight games by the experienced Hong Kong pair Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet, going down 10-21, 16-21 in just 32 minutes.
All eyes now shift to the men’s doubles quarterfinal, where Satwik and Chirag will look to continue their comeback story. If they manage to clean up their unforced errors and rediscover their trademark aggression, a semifinal spot is well within reach.
For now, the road ahead is challenging—but with every match, SatChi are inching closer to their peak. The roar isn’t back yet, but the fire is clearly still there.
#SingaporeOpen2025 #SatChi #IndianBadminton
