Indonesia Open 2023: Satwik-Chirag become first Indians to win BWF World Tour 1000 title

The Asian men's doubles champions defeated the World men's doubles Champions to script history.

Indian top seed men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated reigning World Champions Chia/Soh in straight games (21-17, 21-18) to clinch the Indonesia Open title (BWF 1000). They also become the first-ever Indian to claim a BWF World Tour 1000 title. The World No. 6 went into the final with a 0-8 h2h record against the Malaysian pair. In the end, the 'brothers of destruction' opened their tally by winning their maiden encounter against Chia/Soh.

The Asian champions had a smooth sailing throughout the tournament winning all five matches in straight games. En route to the title win, the Commonwealth Games 2022 champions defeated home favourites and the top seed in straight games. The Indian pair had a comfortable start to the final winning the opening game. In the second game, Satchi had six match points; but the world champions showed glimpses of a comeback by saving four match points. In the end, Satwik and Chirag found a way to win a point and became the champions.

The Indian pair have won BWF (Tour 100, 300, 500, 750, and 1000) along with winning the Commonwealth Games, Asian Championships, and Thomas Cup. The titles or medals missing from their illustrious cabinet is (the Olympic Games and the Asian Games) which they will definitely win in the upcoming days.

Earlier in the day, Reigning Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei defeated Rio Olympic gold medallist Carolina Marin in straight games (21-18, 21-19). After winning the opening game, Chen looked out of colours but saved crucial points, in the end, to emerge victorious. Olympic and World Champion Viktor Axelsen concluded the Indonesia Open on a bright note beating home favourite Antony Sinisuka Ginting (21-13, 21-14). This was Viktor's first tournament post the hamstring injury and wins the title comfortably without much hadoo.

Sat-Chi performance at the Indonesia Open 2023

R1 - beats Christo Popov/Toma Popov (21-12, 11-7) *retired

R2 - beats He Ting/Zhou Dong (21-17, 21-15)

Quarter-finals - beats Fajar Alfian/Rian Ardianto (21-13, 21-13)

Semi-finals - beats Kang Hyuk/Seung Jae (21-14, 21-10)

Final - Chia/Soh (21-17, 21-18)