Thailand Open badminton: Satwik-Chirag save four championship points before settling for runner-up finish

Star Indian pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty saved 4 championship factors earlier than taking place preventing in opposition to Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin in a gripping males’s doubles last to complete runners-up on the Thailand Open Tremendous 500 event in Bangkok on Sunday (Might 17, 2026).

World No. 4 Satwik and Chirag, champions in 2019 and 2024, seemed off-colour within the opening sport however confirmed nice psychological fortitude underneath stress within the second to nearly take the match to the decider earlier than dropping 12-21 23-25 in a 53-minute summit conflict.

It was one other creditable end for Satwik and Chirag, who’ve established themselves as India’s most constant doubles pair lately. For the Indian duo, who had missed some tournaments on account of Satwik’s shoulder damage, it was a 3rd last look on the $475,000 occasion and their first of the season.

That they had additionally completed runners-up on the China Masters and Hong Kong Open final yr.

Whereas the Indians returned to the rostrum as soon as once more, it proved to be a dream end for Carnando and Marthin, who reunited for this event after two years following the latter’s restoration from a long-term knee damage that required surgical procedure.

It was additionally the Indonesians’ first win over Satwik and Chirag, who had entered the competition with a 4-0 head-to-head report in opposition to them, with three of these victories coming in three-game matches.

The competition was a high-intensity affair marked by fast exchanges on the internet and fierce front-court battles.

Chirag appeared to battle along with his serve early on because the Indians slipped to a 1-4 deficit, although they stayed inside touching distance at 7-9.

Leo and Daniel then opened up a four-point cushion after Satwik failed to regulate one in all Daniel’s highly effective smashes.

The Indonesians seemed in full management as they prolonged the result in 13-8 earlier than a few unforced errors helped the Indians slim the hole.

Nevertheless, a pointy smash break up the Indian pair, and Chirag then pushed one vast handy the Indonesians a five-point benefit once more.

The Indians received two profitable video referrals, however they have been erratic and buckled underneath fixed stress. Chirag discovered the web as soon as extra as they trailed 12-17.

Satwik and Chirag struggled within the service exchanges and have been undone by a string of unforced errors because the Indonesians earned eight sport factors and sealed the opener when Satwik pushed a return into the web.

After the change of sides, Marthin continued to dismantle the Indian defence along with his brutal smashes because the Indonesians led 5-3.

A flick serve helped the Indians claw again at 5-5 and go on a run of factors as they took a 7-5 lead for the primary time within the match with a scything return on the internet from Chirag.

The Indonesians drew degree at 9-9 earlier than a smash from Chirag and a large return from their opponents handed the Indians a two-point lead on the interval.

On resumption, it grew to become a contest of who blinks first as a flick serve from Chirag was punished with a thunderous smash because the Indonesians once more made it 11-11 earlier than shifting forward after Satwik discovered the web after a rapid-fire cross-court alternate.

There was little to separate the 2 pairs thereafter because the lead saved altering palms in tense service conditions, with the scores locked at 14-14 to 19-19.

The Indonesians earned their first championship level with Marthin as soon as once more concentrating on Chirag with a fierce push. The Indians saved it after forcing an error from Marthin to make it 20-20. Marthin then secured one other championship level, just for Chirag to erase it with a pointy internet kill.

A service error from Satwik handed the Indonesians a 3rd championship level, however they didn’t convert after sending the shuttle lengthy. One other brutal attacking return from Marthin on the entrance courtroom earned Indonesia a fourth championship level, however the Indians survived but once more.

Marthin produced one other decisive kill shot to deliver up a fifth championship level, and this time the Indonesians sealed the match when the Indians discovered the web.