Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty claimed the Thailand Open Super 500 title with a commanding 21-15, 21-15 victory over Chinese duo Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi on Sunday morning. This win not only secured their second title of 2024 but also propelled them back to the world No. 1 position in men’s doubles.
As the top seeds, Satwik and Chirag were the favorites throughout the tournament and displayed their dominance by not dropping a single game en route to the title. Despite facing a challenge from the 29th-ranked Chinese pair in the final, the Indian duo maintained their composure and seized control of the match when needed.
The match saw Satwik-Chirag taking an early lead, only to see Chen and Liu briefly take a one-point lead midway through the first game. However, the Indians regained their momentum and closed out the first game comfortably. In the second game, they built a significant lead early on and managed to fend off any comeback attempts from their opponents.
Following their victory, Satwik and Chirag expressed their satisfaction with returning to the top spot in the world rankings, especially after facing setbacks in their previous tournaments—the second round exit at the All England Championship and a quarterfinal finish at the Thomas Cup.
In a men’s doubles field affected by various absences, the Indian pair’s victory was a testament to their skill and determination, solidifying their status as one of the leading pairs in international badminton.
