Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty of India put up an outstanding performance in the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open Super 750 badminton competition on Saturday, defeating the world’s top pair. The dynamic combination, while not being at their best fitness, showed their resilience and fighting spirit against higher-ranked opponents, marking a strong return to the international stage.
Despite losing in the semi-finals to Malaysia’s world No. 3 team, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, 21-19, 10-21, 18-21, the Indian couple expressed satisfaction with their improvement.
Chirag remarked on the journey, adding that they never anticipated making the semi-finals given their recent struggles. The pair has had numerous setbacks since the Tokyo Olympics, including Satwik’s father’s tragic death from cardiac arrest in February and Chirag’s recurring back injury, which prompted him to withdraw from the All England Championships in March.
Their problems saw them fall from global number one to number 27 in the rankings, but they are desperate to reclaim their place. Satwik complimented Chirag’s dedication to treatment, recognising his partner’s tireless efforts.
Both players believe their greatest form is yet to come, and they hope to do better in future tournaments, including the upcoming Indonesia Open.
