After months of near-misses and frustrating finishes, India’s star men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have finally broken through – reaching their first final of the 2025 season at the Hong Kong Open Super 500 with a dominant straight-game win on Saturday.
The world No. 9 duo delivered a confident and composed performance to beat Chinese Taipei’s Bing-Wei Lin and Chen Cheng Kuan 21-17, 21-15, ending a run of six consecutive semifinal exits this year. For a pair that has consistently been among the world’s elite, this long-awaited final appearance comes as both relief and reward.
FIRST EVER FINAL FOR SATWIK/CHIRAG THIS YEAR
— 🇮🇳 Thomas Cup 22 🏆 (@Anmolkakkar27) September 13, 2025
FIRST after Thailand Open 2024
Satwik/Chirag defeated Chen/Lin 21-17, 21-15 in the SF of Hong Kong Open
Congratulations Satwik/Chirag pic.twitter.com/6jHPJFInV0
Back Where They Belong
It’s been a challenging year for Satwik and Chirag – not in terms of form, but in getting past that tricky semifinal hurdle. At multiple tournaments in 2025, they’ve reached the last four only to fall short at the penultimate stage. But in Hong Kong, the duo played with sharpness, intensity, and purpose right from the first point.
They controlled the net exchanges, capitalized on their aggressive style, and showed composure in the closing stages of both games to seal the match in under 45 minutes.
This final appearance not only ends their title drought but also reaffirms their place as one of the most dangerous pairs on the circuit.
The Final Awaits
The eighth-seeded Indians will now face the winners of the other semifinal – either China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang or the all-Taipei pair of Fang-Chih Lee and Fang-Jen Lee. Regardless of the opponent, Satwik and Chirag will head into the final brimming with confidence and eager to convert this opportunity into a long-awaited title.
After months of “almosts,” they now stand just one step away from glory.
What This Means for Indian Badminton
Satwik-Chirag’s run to the final is a major boost for Indian badminton fans, especially with the Paris 2026 Olympics on the horizon. Known for their aggressive play and on-court chemistry, the duo has been India’s biggest hope in men’s doubles for the past few years. Their ability to bounce back from a rough patch and reach a final again shows the kind of mental strength champions are made of.
With their eyes now firmly set on the title, all of India will be watching – hoping the wait for gold ends in style.
Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: Salman Agha sends ‘Strong Warning’ ahead of IND-PAK clash – ‘We are good enough…’
