India’s premier men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, surged into the quarterfinals of the Singapore Open Super 750 badminton tournament on Thursday, May 29, 2025. In a thrilling display of resilience, the world No. 27 duo overcame Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Muhammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 19-21, 21-16, 21-18 in a tense 74-minute battle at the Singapore Indoor Stadium .
💪 Comeback Kings: Shaking Off Rust in Style
The victory marked a triumphant return to form for the Indian pair, competing in their first tournament since March. Their campaign began strongly on Wednesday with a dominant 40-minute straight-games win (21-16, 21-13) over Malaysia’s Choong Hon Jian and Muhammad Haikal. Despite Chirag’s recent back injury and Satwik’s health concerns that forced them to skip the All England Open and Sudirman Cup, they showed zero hesitation on court .
“Their sharp net play and explosive smashes confirmed they’d banished any post-injury doubts,” observed BWF commentators during their opening match .
🔥 Quarterfinal Clash: Breaking Down the Decisive Match
Facing the unseeded but dangerous Indonesians in the Round of 16, Satwik-Chirag faced a stern test:
- Slow Start: Lost a tight first game 19-21 after trailing early .
- Mid-Game Shift: Leveraged aggressive serving and cross-court drops to dominate the second game 21-16 .
- Decider Drama: Rallied from 14-16 down in the third, winning 7 of the last 9 points to seal it 21-18 .
The match highlighted their signature strengths – telepathic coordination at the net, raw power in rear-court smashes, and clutch decision-making under pressure .
🌟 Season Momentum: Building on Early Success
This run extends their impressive 2025 form:
- Malaysia Open (Jan): Semifinalists
- India Open (Feb): Semifinalists
- All England (Mar): Withdrew due to Chirag’s injury
Their current Singapore Open campaign signals a return to peak rhythm ahead of July’s Olympics, where they’re projected as medal contenders .
⚠️ Contrasting Fortunes: Lakshya Sen’s Painful Exit
While Satwik-Chirag celebrated, India’s top men’s singles hope, Lakshya Sen (world No. 17), suffered a heartbreaking exit. After winning his first game 21-15 against Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chun-Yi, Sen retired trailing 5-13 in the decider due to acute lower back spasms. His coach confirmed the injury occurred during practice days earlier, worsening mid-match .
🇮🇳 Other Indian Results: Mixed Outcomes
- Mixed Doubles: Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Gadde advanced to pre-quarters with a 21-16, 21-19 win over USA’s Chen/Zi Yi .
- Women’s Singles: Aakarshi Kashyap and Unnati Hooda lost despite winning opening games against top-5 opponents Han Yue and Wang Zhi Yi .
- Women’s Doubles: Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand progressed to Round 2 .
🏸 Quarterfinal Challenge: Eyes on the Prize
Satwik-Chirag now await the winners of Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin (Taipei) or Astra Putra/Isfahani (Indonesia). A win here would mark their third semifinal of 2025 and bolster Olympic seeding points .
💎 Why This Victory Matters
Beyond the quarterfinal berth, this performance proves Satwik-Chirag have overcome their physical setbacks. Their ability to win grueling three-game battles against technically skilled pairs reinforces their status as India’s most reliable medal hope for Paris 2024. As Chirag noted pre-tournament: “Every match here is about rebuilding confidence and sharpening our killer instinct” .
Next Match: Satwik-Chirag’s Singapore Open quarterfinal will be streamed live on BWF TV’s YouTube channel on Friday, May 30 .
Singapore Open 2025: Satwik-Chirag Quarterfinal Journey – FAQs
Q1: Did Satwik-Chirag win their Singapore Open Round of 16 match?
A: Yes! They staged a comeback victory (19-21, 21-16, 21-18) against Indonesia’s Gutama/Isfahani after 74 intense minutes.
Q2: Why was Lakshya Sen’s match significant?
A: India’s top singles player retired mid-match due to acute back spasms while trailing in the decider against Lin Chun-Yi – a major setback before the Olympics.
Q3: How did Satwik-Chirag perform after their injury break?
A: Dominant in their opener (straight-game win vs. Malaysia) and resilient in the pre-quarters – proving full recovery from Chirag’s back injury and Satwik’s health issues.
Q4: Who will Satwik-Chirag face in the quarterfinals?
A: Winners of Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin (Tokyo Olympics gold medalists) or Indonesia’s Astra Putra/Isfahani.