It is a good signal, finest is but to come back: Satwik-Chirag on semifinal end at Singapore Open

File photograph of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
| Photograph Credit score: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

Indian males’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty had been happy with the way in which they challenged their higher-ranked opponents regardless of not being at their bodily finest, marking a promising comeback on the Singapore Open Tremendous 750 badminton event right here on Saturday (Might 31, 2025).

The Asian Video games champions signed off with a semifinal end dropping to Malaysia’s world No. 3 duo Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 21-19, 10-21, 18-21.

“To return this far with the variety of days we have educated and the weeks, months we have had each professionally and personally, to get again right here and play a semifinal, we by no means actually anticipated,” Chirag mentioned after the loss.

“So, I feel loads of positives. You at all times wish to go deeper and win the title, however once I look again at what we confronted over the previous couple of months, to come back again and play a semifinal is a very good begin. We’ll go to Indonesia now.”

Satwik and Chirag had struggled to compete persistently after the Olympics as a result of a number of setbacks.

After a semifinal end on the China Open final yr, they reached the final 4 on the Malaysia and India Opens earlier than being hit once more by well being and private challenges.

Satwik suffered a significant private loss earlier this yr when his father died as a result of cardiac arrest in February.

He was additionally sidelined as a result of sickness, lacking the Sudirman Cup. Upon their return, Chirag’s again damage flared up in the course of the All England Championships, reducing brief their marketing campaign in March.

The time away from courtroom impacted their rating, as they slipped from world No. 1 to 27.

“Clearly that was the plan (to regain rating). We did not like that quantity 27, I feel. We heard about that. Nevertheless it’s due to the break we had, unlucky issues and little accidents right here and there after Olympics.

“We didn’t play many tournaments, however if you happen to look again, no matter we performed, we reached semifinals — which is an efficient signal,” mentioned Satwik.

“One of many optimistic issues is we’re not at our greatest but. Nonetheless, we’re capable of beat some prime gamers and hassle the top-level pairs. That provides us numerous confidence and I really feel the most effective is but to come back.”

Chirag, who aggravated his again damage in the course of the All England Championships, needed to bear a tricky rehab course of.

Satwik acknowledged the hassle put in by his companion.

“However yeah, actually hats off to Chirag. He has been via loads over the previous few months. Final month wasn’t straightforward — I noticed him working day and night time, morning, night, afternoon. So actually hats off,” Satwik mentioned.

“I do know he is in ache now additionally, however he is nonetheless not telling me. That’s how we elevate one another and we wish to do properly within the upcoming tournaments.”