‘Everyone outside No. 1 should stop playing if we’re inconsistent’: Chirag Shetty hits back at critics after Singapore Open title

Satwiksiraj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (ANI Photo) NEW DELHI: India’s star badminton doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksiraj Rankireddy ended their 742-day wait for a BWF World Tour title by winning the Singapore Open. The former world number one duo battled back from a game down in the final to defeat Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 18-21, 21-17, 21-16. It was their third Super 750 title and reward after a tough season that included injuries, four final losses and eight semi-final exits.Despite not winning the title for over two years, Chirag dismissed suggestions that the pair had become inconsistent.“I wouldn’t call it inconsistency. I think on the contrary we have been quite consistent. To call the number three in the world inconsistent, I think everyone else except the number one should stop playing badminton,” Chirag said.He explained that injuries and time out affected their rhythm, not their quality. The pair even dropped to world number 27 in June 2025, before climbing back to number 3 in November.“Yes, of course, everybody steps on the court to win. We wanted to go out there and win titles as well. But it wasn’t that we weren’t capable of it, and it wasn’t that we weren’t playing well or anything. It’s just that maybe some days luck wasn’t on our side.”Satwik also pointed to injuries as a major challenge, but said they were a normal part of elite sport. “It’s an integral part of the game. It’s not like nobody has injuries,” he said.The victory at the Singapore Open came after the pair expressed disappointment at the lack of attention given to their badminton achievements, including a bronze medal from India’s Thomas Cup. Chirag welcomed the increased coverage but said the sport deserves regular recognition.The duo also praised coaches Mathias Boe and Tan Kim Her for helping with match planning and tactical preparation. Confidence is high as we look to the World Cup and the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.“On a good day, we can beat anybody,” Satwik said.For now, the pair are focusing on staying in shape, Chirag says, “Things are going well right now. Fingers crossed.”