The Rise and Rise of Satwik-Chirag! Indian duo wins Korea Open, this year’s fourth title

The Indian pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty came from behind to win the men's doubles title at the Korea Open 2023 badminton tournament in Yeosu on Sunday.

 

The Indian duo beat Indonesian top seeds Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto, world No. 1 in the badminton rankings, by 17-21, 21-13, 21-14 in the title decider at the Jinnam Stadium.

 

 

 

Rankireddy and Shetty have been on a roll this year, and it was their fourth title in 2023, three on the BWF World Tour besides the Asia Championships crown, and their seventh title overall on the BWF World Tour. Apart from this, they have now been unbeaten on the BWF World Tour for 10 matches.

 

They won the Swiss Open in March and victory at last month’s Indonesia Open made them the first Indian pair to claim a Super 1000 event, the highest level competition on the tour.

 

 

This result also means Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have won their last five finals on the BWF World Tour. The Indian pair last lost a title decider at the French Open 2019 against another Indonesian pair, Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo.

 

Former world champion PV Sindhu is the only other Indian to clinch the Korea Open title, clinching the title in 2017.

 

Results at the Korea Open count towards players’ qualifying rankings for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The qualification window for badminton started on May 1 this year.

 

Indian shuttlers will be next in action at the Japan Open next week.