Satwik and Chirag Defeat Korean World Champions to Reach Singapore Open Final

The Indian men’s doubles badminton pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated Korean world champions Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae in straight games on Saturday, May 30, 2026, to advance to the final of the Singapore Open Super 750 tournament.

The fourth-seeded Indian duo registered their first-ever victory over the Korean pair in three head-to-head meetings. They won the semifinal clash 21-19, 21-18 in Singapore, securing their second World Tour final appearance of the year in a match that lasted 52 minutes.

Satwiksairaj and Chirag, who were bronze medallists at the 2025 World Championships, previously finished as runners-up at the Thailand Open earlier this year.

During the semifinal match, the Indian combination staged strong comebacks in both games after conceding early leads to their opponents. In the opening game, Satwiksairaj and Chirag trailed 8-13 and later 13-17, but they maintained their composure under pressure to secure the game 21-19.

"When we were down, we kept calm and backed ourselves because we knew if we stuck to our plan, they would crack at some point," Chirag Shetty said after the match.

The second game followed a similar pattern, with the Indian pair trailing 11-14. However, they rallied to win six consecutive points, establishing a 17-14 lead. They maintained this advantage to close out the game at 21-18 and seal their place in the final.

Commenting on the challenge of playing against Kim and Seo, Chirag Shetty noted that the Korean duo possesses the best defence on the circuit. He added that they knew they had to remain calm and steady, particularly during their attacks.

With this victory, Satwiksairaj and Chirag will now prepare to face the winners of the second semifinal match. That tie features fifth seeds Mathias Christiansen and Alexander Boe of Denmark playing against China's Gao Jia Xuan and Wei Ya Xin.