India’s star men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty saved four championship points but fell agonisingly short in the final of the Thailand Open Super 500, losing 12-21, 23-25 to Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin in a gripping summit clash here on Sunday.
The World No. 4 Indian duo, champions at the same event in 2019 and 2024, struggled to find rhythm in the opening game as the Indonesians dominated early exchanges and capitalised on unforced errors from Chirag and Satwik to take control. Despite staying within touching distance in the initial phase, the Indians could not sustain pressure and quickly slipped behind as Carnando and Marthin built a commanding lead.
The Indonesians, who entered the match with a 0-4 head-to-head record against the Indians, played with renewed confidence, particularly at the net, where Marthin’s sharp interceptions and aggressive smashes repeatedly put the Indian pair on the back foot. Satwik and Chirag found it difficult to settle into their usual attacking rhythm, with service errors and misplaced returns further hampering their challenge. The opening game slipped away as the Indonesians converted their dominance into an 11-point win.
However, the second game witnessed a dramatic turnaround in intensity. The Indian pair regrouped after the change of ends and began to match the Indonesians shot for shot in a high-octane battle marked by quick rallies and sharp front-court exchanges. Chirag’s net play and Satwik’s powerful back-court smashes helped India claw back from early deficits, and the duo even took a brief lead after a series of aggressive points.
Also read: Satwik-Chirag storm into Thailand Open final
The contest then turned into a nerve-wracking battle of nerves, with neither pair willing to give an inch. From 14-14 onwards, the lead changed hands repeatedly as both pairs produced high-quality badminton under immense pressure. The Indonesians reached championship point multiple times, but the Indians displayed remarkable resilience to save four match points—first forcing errors, then producing sharp returns and well-timed net kills.
At 20-20, the tension peaked, with every rally carrying immense significance. A service error from Satwik handed Indonesia another opportunity, but they squandered chances twice more as the Indians refused to back down. Eventually, however, Marthin produced a decisive finish at the net to seal the title for the Indonesians in 53 minutes.
Despite the heartbreak, the result underlined the consistency of Satwik and Chirag, who continue to remain India’s most reliable doubles pair on the international circuit. It was also their third final appearance at the Thailand Open, reaffirming their strong record at the Super 500 event.
For Carnando and Marthin, reunited after a long injury layoff for the latter, the win marked a significant milestone as they overcame a top-ranked pair for the first time.
The Indians, meanwhile, will take positives from their fighting comeback in the second game as they continue preparations for upcoming major tournaments on the BWF circuit.
Follow us
