In their first major tournament appearance since January, India’s top men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made an impressive return to the BWF Tour, reaching the semi-finals of the Singapore Open 2025.
But in a familiar and frustrating script, the duo fell to their long-time rivals Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia, marking their 10th defeat to the former world champions.
The loss 21-19, 10-21, 18-21 was a hard-fought and emotional one. Coming back from a game down, the Malaysian pair once again displayed their superior defensive wall and relentless counter-attack. For Satwik and Chirag, the match highlighted both their brilliance and their rustiness after a long layoff.
A Promising Start, a Painful Pattern
India’s golden duo began the match brightly, taking the first game 21-19 with aggressive net play from Chirag and deceptive changes of pace from Satwik. But the second game saw a worrying drop in momentum. The Indians were outplayed and outpaced, losing 10-21 as Chia-Soh tightened their control of the rallies and forced errors from their Indian counterparts.
The decider was a classic, heart-stopping, nerve-wracking, and full of drama.
From 11-14 down, Satwik-Chirag clawed back and even saved seven match points, showing the kind of mental strength that has seen them win Super 1000 titles and an Asian Games gold. But ultimately, the deficit proved too large to overcome. At 18-20, a well-placed smash sealed the match for Chia-Soh, ending India’s campaign at the Singapore Open.
“The Best Is Yet to Come”
Speaking after the match, Satwik remained optimistic. “The best is yet to come,” he said. “Hats off to Chirag. Last month wasn’t easy. I know he’s having pain now also, but he’s still not telling me,” he added with a smile.
The loss marks their third semi-final exit of the season on the BWF Tour—a frustrating stat for a pair used to standing on podiums. But context is key. This was their first tournament since January, and they were facing not just one of the world’s best pairs, but also the mental challenge of returning to rhythm after injury setbacks.
Indeed, the last time Satwik and Chirag played Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik was in the quarter-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympics, where the Malaysians crushed India’s hopes of a historic Olympic medal.
That history makes this defeat sting even more, but it also adds urgency—and excitement—to what’s coming next.
All Eyes on the Indonesia Open
Satwik and Chirag now head to Jakarta for the Indonesia Open (Super 1000), starting June 3. With an extra day to prepare and some much-needed match practice under their belts, expectations will be higher—and the stakes even more so.
The draw could serve up a 14th meeting with Chia-Soh in the second round. Currently, Chia-Soh lead the head-to-head 10-3, but crucially, Satwik-Chirag have won the bigger matches in recent years—Super 1000 finals, Asian Games semi-finals. When at their best, they own the moment.
The focus now shifts to recovery and rhythm. The chemistry is there, the firepower is undeniable. It’s all about staying fit and keeping the confidence up.
A Golden Duo, Still Sparkling
Even in defeat, this week proved that Satwik and Chirag are still very much among the elite in men’s doubles badminton. They beat the World No. 1 pair earlier in the week and looked composed in most situations—until fatigue and rust crept in during the high-pressure stages of the semi-final.
A few technical issues persist—judging the shuttle length from the near side, sustaining tempo in longer rallies, and closing gaps early in the decider—but nothing that can’t be ironed out with game time.
And while the 10-21 second game scoreline might look worrying, what followed in the third set reminded fans why these two are India’s best hope for a historic Olympic medal in 2028.
Satwik and Chirag may have fallen short in Singapore, but this was a step forward after months of uncertainty. As Chirag continues to manage a lingering physical issue and the duo finds their rhythm again, Indian fans can take heart in one truth: this pair is far from done.
With Jakarta next, and the big Olympic qualification year underway, it’s only a matter of time before we see them lift another big trophy.
And when they do, it will be well worth the wait.
