The two-year title drought ends! Satwik-Chirag won the first Singapore Open

Satwiksiraj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (X Photo) NEW DELHI: Former world number one pair Satwiksiraj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty finally returned to the winner’s circle in style and made history with a thrilling comeback win to claim their maiden Singapore Open crown on Sunday.The Indian duo battled back from a tie to beat Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 18-21, 21-17, 21-16 in a thrilling men’s doubles final at the BWF Super 750 tournament. The win not only ended a frustrating two-year wait for the title but also made them the first Indian pair to win the doubles title at the prestigious Singapore Open.For Satwik and Chirag, the triumph marked their ninth World Tour title and third Super 750 crown, underscoring their status as one of the most successful pairs that Indian badminton has produced.The long wait is finally overThe Asian and Commonwealth Games champions have not lifted a trophy since winning the Thailand Open in 2024. Since then, they have endured a string of near misses, finishing runners-up in four finals.That drought has finally ended in Singapore after a week of showing both resilience and quality. The victory was all the sweeter considering they entered the final with a 1-2 record against the Indonesian pair, including a defeat at the Malaysia Open earlier this year.The Indians also arrived at the summit high on confidence after stunning reigning world champions and top seeds Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae in the semi-finals.A comeback built on poise and strengthThe finals got off to a rocky start for the Indians as Alfian and Fikri dominated a very competitive opening match. Satwik and Chirag had a narrow lead midway through the match, but crucial late-game errors allowed the Indonesians to take the initiative.Faced with the prospect of another painful final defeat, the Indian pair responded brilliantly.In the second game, they turned up the intensity, attacking with much more purpose and dominating the rally. Chirag’s sharp saves at the net combined with Satwik’s powerful smashes helped them level the match and shift the momentum.The deciding game saw the best badminton from the Indians. They took an early lead and maintained control despite a spirited fightback from the Indonesians. Whenever the pressure mounted, Satwik’s thunderous smashes provided the answers as the pair cruised to victory.With five match points in hand, the Indians briefly faced a warning from the referee for holding, but it didn’t matter. In the very next point, Alfian sent his return into the net, causing joyful scenes.As the winning point was sealed, Chirag collapsed onto the court in relief and celebration. Satwik followed with a child-themed gesture before the pair embraced and danced on court, soaking in a victory two years in the making.

Should Satwiksiraj and Chirag be considered India’s best badminton doubles team?