Satwik-Chirag exit after quarterfinal defeat

Jakarta

India’s top men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, bowed out of the Indonesia Open Super 1000 badminton tournament on Friday after a quarterfinal loss. They were defeated by Malaysia’s Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun in straight games, 19-21, 16-21, in a match lasting 43 minutes.

The Indian pair, ranked World No. 1 and the defending champions, looked off-color throughout the match. They struggled with their serve and returns, while the Malaysians played with confidence and control. This was the Malaysian duo’s first win over the Indians in several meetings.

Satwik and Chirag, who had won the Indonesia Open in 2023, never looked settled. Their defense lacked sharpness, and they made many unforced errors under pressure. In the first game, they trailed 7-9 and 9-11 at the interval. Though they fought back to 17-all, the Malaysians pushed ahead with strong net play and won the game.

The second game started poorly for the Indians, who quickly fell behind 3-7. The Malaysians kept up the pace and extended the lead to 15-9. Satwik and Chirag managed a small comeback, reaching 16-18, but it wasn’t enough. Tee’s clever net shots and the Indians’ mistakes gave the Malaysians four match points. They won the match with ease, ending India’s run at the event.

The defeat marked the end of India’s challenge in this year’s Indonesia Open. The Malaysians, who recently won the Malaysia Masters and Indonesia Masters, moved on to the semifinals with their confident display.