New Bangkok: Indian badminton stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty achieved a major milestone ahead of the Paris Olympics by winning the men's doubles title at the Thailand Open Super 500 tournament.
The World No. 3 duo clinched their ninth BWF world tour title with a convincing straight-game victory over China's Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi, ranked 29th, with scores of 21-15, 21-15.
This victory marks a crucial comeback for the Indian pair following recent setbacks, including an early exit at the All England Championships and missing the Asia Championships due to Satwik's injury. Their Thomas Cup campaign also fell short with several close losses to top-ranked pairs.
Dominating the Thailand Open final from the start, Satwik and Chirag were the clear favourites. Despite Chen and Liu's impressive journey to the final, the Indian duo proved too formidable, maintaining control throughout the match and preventing their opponents from gaining any significant momentum.
The match began with Satwik and Chirag taking an early 5-1 lead, though the Chinese pair managed to level the score at 10-10. However, the Indians kept their cool and secured the first game with precise shots and excellent serves.
In the second game, Satwik and Chirag quickly established an 8-3 lead and maintained a comfortable five-point cushion at the interval. Although Chen and Liu closed the gap to 14-15, the Indians held their nerve. Satwik's powerful smashes earned them five match points, ultimately leading to victory when the Chinese sent Chirag's smash into the net.
Celebrating their win, Satwik broke into a jubilant dance with his racquet, while Chirag threw his shirt into the crowd, visibly relieved and overjoyed at securing this crucial title.
This triumph in Bangkok, a city that holds special significance for the pair, sets a positive tone for their preparations heading into the Paris Olympics.
