Satwik-Chirag Storm Into Singapore Open Semi-Finals With Comeback Win; Sindhu's Run Ends Against An Se Young
Indian badminton experienced mixed fortunes at the Singapore Open Super 750 on Friday as men's doubles stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty produced another stirring comeback to reach the semi-finals, while PV Sindhu's impressive run came to an end against world No. 1 An Se Young.
For Satwik and Chirag, it was another statement victory in what is becoming a highly encouraging week in Singapore. The former world No. 1 pair defeated Malaysia's rising combination of Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing 19-21, 21-17, 21-13 in a thrilling 65-minute quarterfinal battle to book their place in the last four. The victory carried extra significance for the Indian duo. Aaron and Kang had stunned Satwik and Chirag at the All England Championships earlier this season, making Friday's encounter an opportunity for redemption. The Indians grabbed that opportunity with both hands.
The scoreline tells only part of the story. Satwik and Chirag were under immense pressure after dropping the opening game 19-21 despite staying competitive throughout. The young Malaysian pair, regarded as one of the most promising combinations on the BWF Tour, continued their momentum into the second game and raced to an early 8-3 lead.
At that point, the match appeared to be slipping away from the Indians. What followed, however, was a reminder of why Satwik and Chirag remain among the most feared doubles pairs in world badminton. Instead of panicking, they gradually wrestled back control of the rallies. Their trademark attacking style, aggressive interceptions at the net and relentless pressure began to unsettle the Malaysians.
Point by point, the deficit disappeared. The Indians eventually took the second game 21-17, forcing a decider and shifting momentum completely in their favour.
Having survived the difficult moments in the second game, Satwik and Chirag looked increasingly confident in the decider. Their experience at the highest level began to show as they controlled the tempo of the match and denied the Malaysians any opportunity to build momentum. The pair mixed powerful smashes with clever placement, forcing Aaron and Kang into errors and gradually extending their advantage.
By the closing stages, the contest had firmly swung in India's favour. The 21-13 scoreline in the third game reflected their dominance as they completed a memorable comeback and secured their place in the semi-finals. It was another example of the resilience that has defined many of their biggest victories over the years.
The victory sends Satwik and Chirag into yet another Super 750 semi-final and keeps alive hopes of a significant title run. The Indian pair will next face either South Korea's Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae or the experienced Japanese duo of Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi. Neither challenge will be straightforward.
Kim and Seo have emerged as one of the strongest pairs on the circuit, while Hoki and Kobayashi are former world champions with extensive experience at the highest level.
However, based on their performances this week, Satwik and Chirag will enter the semi-finals with confidence. After overcoming difficult moments against both the Chinese Taipei pair in the Round of 16 and the Malaysians in the quarterfinals, the Indians have shown they can win even when not at their absolute best.
Earlier in the day, PV Sindhu's campaign came to a halt in the quarterfinals against reigning Olympic champion and world No. 1 An Se Young. The Indian lost 17-21, 14-21 in 48 minutes, extending her winless streak against the South Korean to nine matches. While the result was disappointing, the scoreline does not fully capture the nature of the contest.
Sindhu produced several high-quality passages of play and managed to challenge An Se Young for significant portions of the opening game. Her attacking intent and willingness to engage in long rallies demonstrated many of the qualities that made her one of the world's best players.
However, An Se Young's consistency and ability to sustain pressure ultimately proved decisive. The South Korean repeatedly forced Sindhu into difficult defensive positions and capitalised on crucial moments in both games to secure victory.
Despite the defeat, the tournament offered encouraging signs for Sindhu. Earlier in the week, she defeated Japan's Riko Gunji convincingly to secure a return to the world's top 10 rankings for the first time in several months. Her movement looked sharper than in previous tournaments, and there were glimpses of the aggressive style that helped her become a two-time Olympic medallist and world champion.
The challenge now is translating those positive signs into victories against the very top players.
At present, the gap between Sindhu and An Se Young remains significant, but the Singapore Open demonstrated that the Indian is moving in the right direction.
With Sindhu eliminated, India's hopes in Singapore now rest heavily on Satwik and Chirag, who continue to carry the country's strongest title prospects. The duo have once again shown why they are among the elite pairs in world badminton. Their comeback victory over Aaron and Kang was not just about reaching another semi-final.
It was a reminder that when the pressure rises, Satwik and Chirag remain one of the toughest partnerships to beat.
And with a place in the final now within touching distance, the Indian pair will believe their best week of the season may still be ahead of them.
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