India’s star badminton pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty finally ended their two-year wait for a major title in unforgettable fashion, becoming the first Indian men’s doubles team to win the Singapore Open crown.
The world No. 4 duo fought back from a game down to defeat Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 18-21, 21-17, 21-16 in a thrilling 72-minute final at the BWF Super 750 tournament in Singapore on May 31, reported The Straits Times.
The victory marked a significant milestone for the Indian pair, who had endured several painful near-misses since their last title triumph at the Thailand Open in 2024.
After sealing the winning point, Satwik and Chirag collapsed on court in celebration before breaking into their trademark racket twirls and celebratory dance moves. Satwik also performed a baby-themed celebration dedicated to his newborn niece.
“Last week, my brother was blessed with a baby. So that celebration was dedicated to her and my family,” Satwik later explained emotionally.
For the Indian duo, the Singapore Open triumph represented the end of a frustrating phase where consistency brought deep tournament runs but not trophies, noted The New Indian Express.
“Two years. We knew for a fact that eventually the win would come. We had that belief, and it was just a matter of time, and finally we got it,” Chirag said after the final.
The match itself was played at a breathtaking pace, with both pairs producing lightning-fast rallies and fierce flat exchanges at the net. The Indonesians took the opening game after edging ahead at 18-18, targeting Satwik early and forcing errors from the Indian left-hander. But Satwik and Chirag gradually found their rhythm.
The turning point came midway through the second game when the Indians opened up an 18-15 lead through aggressive attacking play and improved control in the front court exchanges. Once the match entered the decider, the Indian pair looked increasingly confident.
Satwik later revealed that their Malaysian coach Tan Kim Her had stressed the importance of dominating the opening exchanges of rallies.
“With Indonesians or Malaysians, it’s mainly about the first four shots. If they put us under pressure, they usually end up on top,” Satwik said.
The title was the Indian pair’s ninth career World Tour crown and third Super 750 title, reaffirming their status among the world’s elite men’s doubles pairs.
The triumph also represented another major success for coach Tan, who reunited with the duo during a crucial phase of their careers, according to India Today.
Former coach and Olympic silver medallist Mathias Boe has also returned recently in a consulting role, focusing on tactical analysis ahead of major events, including the World Championships and Asian Games.
Having finally broken their title drought, Satwik and Chirag will now head into the rest of the season with renewed confidence and momentum.
