India’s star men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, have made a strong return to the BWF World Rankings’ top 10 after their impressive semi-final run at the recent China Open.
Satwik-Chirag Re-Enter Top 10
After a compelling performance at the China Open, where they reached the semi-finals, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have climbed three spots to secure the 10th position in the latest BWF men’s doubles rankings. This marks a significant rebound for the duo, who previously held the world No. 1 ranking after their triumph at the Thailand Open last year.
Their journey at the China Open concluded with a 13-21, 17-21 loss in the semifinals to the formidable Malaysian pair of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.
Facing Familiar Foes
The semi-final defeat to Chia and Soh was the third consecutive loss for the Indian pair against the current world No. 2 Malaysians. This string of results suggests that the Malaysian duo, who have tormented them in the past, are once again proving to be tough adversaries.
Reflecting on the match, Chirag Shetty acknowledged the challenges. He told BWF, “We had our chances, especially in the second game, but overall we were not playing the right game.” He added that they were making unforced errors, “hitting more on Aaron and I think that’s what took the game away from us.”
Despite the loss, Chirag noted a positive turning point, stating, “When we started playing smarter at 12-16, we came back at 16-16.” He concluded by calling it a “good tournament for us, but sad that we had to go out this way.”
This was the third time this season that Satwik and Chirag have reached the semi-finals on the BWF Tour, having previously achieved this feat at the Singapore Open and India Open.
Other Indians Making Headway
It wasn’t just the men’s doubles making moves. In men’s singles, Lakshya Sen saw a positive shift, climbing two places to reach world No. 17. Close behind him, HS Prannoy also advanced two spots, now ranking 33rd globally.
Women’s Singles and Doubles Updates
The women’s circuit also witnessed some notable changes. Rising star Unnati Hooda, at just 17 years old, achieved a career-best ranking, jumping four places to No. 31. This surge comes after her remarkable pre-quarterfinal victory over the decorated double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu last week.
Hooda defeated Sindhu in a gruelling three-game battle, winning 21-16, 19-21, 21-13. Her impressive run ended in the quarterfinals, where she faced a tough challenge from Japan’s third seed, Akane Yamaguchi.
Meanwhile, PV Sindhu remains the highest-ranked Indian in women’s singles, holding steady at No. 15. In women’s doubles, the consistent pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand maintained their position at No. 11, while Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa improved their standing by moving up two spots to No. 45.
- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty returned to the men’s doubles Top 10 (10th) after reaching the China Open semifinals.
- Lakshya Sen (17th) and HS Prannoy (33rd) both climbed two spots in men’s singles.
- Unnati Hooda achieved a career-best ranking of 31st in women’s singles after a significant win over PV Sindhu.
- PV Sindhu remains India’s top-ranked woman in singles at 15th.
These latest rankings highlight a dynamic period for Indian badminton as players continue to push their boundaries on the international stage.
