In a significant morale boost ahead of the Paris Olympics, the star Indian duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty clinched the men’s doubles title at the Thailand Open Super 500 badminton tournament. They achieved a commanding straight-game victory over China’s Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi on Sunday. Displaying peak form, world number three pair Satwik and Chirag triumphed 21-15, 21-15 over the 29th-ranked Liu and Chen, marking their ninth BWF world tour title. This victory also represents their second title of the season, following their success at the French Open Super 750 in March. Additionally, they had secured runner-up positions at the Malaysia Super 1000 and India Super 750 tournaments.
“Bangkok has always been special for us. We won our first Super Series title here in 2019 and also the Thomas Cup, so it’s a special place, and we are very happy to be here,” Chirag said after their win.
For Satwik and Chirag, this title comes at a pivotal moment in their careers, following a series of less favorable outcomes in recent tournaments. They faced an early exit in the second round of the All England Championships and missed the Asia Championships due to an injury to Satwik. Their Thomas Cup campaign also saw narrow losses to top pairs.
Entering the Thailand Open final without dropping a game, Satwik and Chirag were favorites to win the title. Despite Liu and Chen’s impressive run to the final and their reputation for never losing a final, the top-seeded Indians proved too strong, preventing the Chinese duo from establishing long rallies or mounting sustained pressure.
Satwik and Chirag started the match brilliantly, quickly securing a 5-1 lead. Although Chen and Liu managed to tie at 7-7, a 39-shot rally gave the Chinese pair a brief 10-7 lead. However, Satwik and Chirag leveled the score at 10-10 and trailed only slightly at the break. After resumption, they moved ahead 14-11 and then 16-12, eventually securing the first game 21-15.
In the second game, the Indians maintained their momentum, leading 8-3 and holding a five-point advantage at the interval. Despite a brief resurgence from Chen and Liu, Satwik and Chirag kept their composure, extending their lead to 17-15 and ultimately winning the game 21-15. The victory was sealed with a series of powerful smashes from Satwik.
Celebrating their win, Satwik danced with his racquet while Chirag threw his shirt into the crowd, marking a joyous end to their successful campaign at the Thailand Open.
This win is not just a title but a testament to Satwik and Chirag’s resilience and determination as they prepare for the Paris Olympics, bringing renewed hope and excitement to Indian badminton fans.
