Satwik-Chirag find positives in gritty Singapore Open run

India’s top men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, delivered a gritty and inspiring performance at the 2025 Singapore Open Super 750, reaching the semifinals despite recent personal and physical setbacks.

A Gutsy Return to Form

After a challenging period marked by injuries and personal loss, Satwik and Chirag made a strong comeback in Singapore. In their opening match, they defeated Malaysia’s Choong Hon Jian and Muhammad Haikal in straight games, 21-16, 21-13, showing no signs of rust.

Their momentum continued as they overcame Indonesia’s seventh-seeded pair, Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Ishfahani, in a hard-fought three-game match to reach the quarterfinals.

Upsetting the World No. 1

In a significant highlight, the Indian duo toppled the world No. 1 Malaysian pair, Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin, with a commanding 21-17, 21-15 victory, marking their third semifinal appearance of the year.

Semifinal Setback with Positives

In the semifinals, Satwik and Chirag faced Malaysia’s world No. 3 duo, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. Despite a valiant effort, they lost in three games: 21-19, 10-21, 18-21. Reflecting on their performance, Chirag said to Sportstar:

“To come this far with the number of days we’ve trained and the weeks, months we’ve had both professionally and personally, to get back here and play a semifinal, we never really expected.”

“So, I think plenty of positives. You always want to go deeper and win the title, but when I look back at what we faced over the past couple of months, to come back and play a semifinal is a really good start. We’ll go to Indonesia now.”

Overcoming Personal and Professional Challenges

The duo’s journey has been fraught with challenges. Satwik suffered a personal loss earlier this year with the passing of his father due to cardiac arrest in February. Additionally, injuries and health issues have disrupted their momentum post the Tokyo Olympics. Despite these hurdles, they have consistently reached the semifinals in major tournaments, including the China Open last year and the Malaysia and India Opens this year.

Looking Ahead

Their performance in Singapore underscores their resilience and determination. As they prepare for upcoming tournaments, including the Indonesia Open, Satwik and Chirag aim to build on their current form and continue their pursuit of excellence on the international stage.