Satwik-Chirag Hit Back After Singapore Open Glory: ‘Inconsistent? Then Everyone Else Should Stop Playing’

Last Updated:June 02, 2026, 09:55 IST

Satwik-Chirag ended a 742-day World Tour title drought at the Singapore Open and dismissed claims of inconsistency, insisting injuries—not form—held them back.

For Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, the wait between BWF World Tour titles stretched to 742 days. But after finally ending that drought at the Singapore Open, India’s star men’s doubles pair made one thing clear: they do not see themselves as inconsistent.

The former world No. 1 duo scripted history on Sunday by becoming the first Indian doubles pair to win the Singapore Open. They fought back from a game down to defeat Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 18-21, 21-17, 21-16 in a gripping 73-minute final.

The triumph delivered their third Super 750 title and capped a challenging two-year period marked by injuries, four runner-up finishes and eight semifinal exits.

Yet Chirag firmly rejected the idea that the pair had lost consistency.

“I wouldn’t call it inconsistency. I think we, on the contrary, were quite consistent. To be calling number three in the world inconsistent, I think everybody else beyond number one should stop playing badminton," Chirag said during a virtual media interaction.

The duo’s struggles were largely linked to fitness setbacks rather than a drop in form. At one point in June 2025, they slipped to world No. 27 after extended absences from the tour. By November, however, they had climbed all the way back into the top three.

“I don’t think anybody has seen that after coming back from injuries to come back from 27 to be three," Chirag added.

Satwik echoed those sentiments, admitting injuries had been their biggest obstacle.

“It’s part and parcel of the game. It’s not like nobody will have injuries," he said. “You have to manage your body, especially my body, with the more attacking game."

Despite the frustrations, the pair never doubted their ability.

“We have been doing the same thing. But yesterday was our day," Satwik said. “Even in bigger tournaments, we played much, much better but didn’t get the result."

The victory also comes at an important time, with the World Championships approaching and preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics already taking shape.

The return of former coach Mathias Boe in a consultancy role has also provided fresh tactical input alongside long-time mentor Tan Kim Her. Both players credited the coaching setup for helping sharpen their preparation.

Looking ahead, Satwik remains confident about their ceiling.

“On a good day, we can beat anyone," he said. “I think our 100 per cent is more. We have many more tools than the other players. But it depends on us, how fit we are and how prepared we are."

(with PTI inputs)

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Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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