India’s top men’s doubles badminton pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty finished runners-up at the Thailand Open 2026 after suffering a straight-game defeat to Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin in the final.
The Indian duo lost 21-12, 25-23 in a 53-minute summit clash at Bangkok’s Nimibutr Stadium, settling for silver in their first final appearance of the 2026 season.
Satwik and Chirag struggled to find rhythm in the opening game as the Indonesian pair dominated proceedings with aggressive attacking play and quick net exchanges. Carnando and Marthin raced through the first set 21-12, leaving the Indians under pressure early in the contest.
The second game, however, turned into a thrilling battle as the Indian pair mounted a spirited comeback. Satwik and Chirag saved five consecutive championship points and pushed the Indonesians deep into extended rallies before narrowly losing 25-23.
Despite the defeat, the tournament marked an encouraging return to form for the former World No.1 pair, who had entered the Thailand Open searching for consistency after a mixed start to the season.
Earlier in the tournament, Satwik and Chirag produced a stunning comeback win in the semi-finals against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin. After dropping the first game, the Indians fought back to win 19-21, 22-20, 21-16 in a high-intensity thriller to reach the final.
The Thailand Open silver medal was India’s only podium finish of the tournament after singles stars Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu exited in the quarter-finals.
Satwik and Chirag, two-time Thailand Open champions, once again showcased their resilience and chemistry throughout the week, strengthening hopes of a strong campaign ahead of the upcoming major BWF events this season.
The pair will now shift focus towards the Singapore Open and Indonesia Open as they continue preparations for the World Championships later this year.
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