Defending champion Satwik-Chirag withdraws from Indonesia Open 2024

The Indian duo last competed at the Singapore Open.

The world’s top-ranked men’s doubles badminton pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also known as Satwik-Chirag, have withdrawn from the upcoming 2024 Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament, set to begin on Tuesday (June 4) at the Istora Senayan.

Satwik-Chirag, who reclaimed the No. #1 position in the latest BWF men’s doubles rankings after winning the Thailand Open 2024, were scheduled to face Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani in their opening match.

The Asian Games Gold medalists have been replaced by another Indonesia pair Rahmat Hidayat and Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan.

Rankireddy and Shetty, the tournament’s reigning champions, had secured the title last year with straight-games win (21-17, 21-18) against Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.

The pair have also been on a spectacular run this year, reaching four finals and winning two in France and Bangkok.

They recently lifted the Thailand Open title after beating Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi of China 21-15, 21-15 in the men’s doubles final at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok. The victory marked their second title of the year, following their win at the French Open in March. Following the title in France, the duo also climbed two spots to regain the top position in the BWF world rankings, displacing Chinese pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang.

In the absence of Rankireddy and Shetty, the Indian challenge at the World Tour event will be spearheaded by HS Prannoy and two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu. Prannoy is set to face fellow Indian Priyanshu Rajawat in his first-round match, while Sindhu will take on Wen Chi Hsu.

Other Indian players participating in the tournament include Lakshya Sen, Kiran George, Ashwini Ponnappa-Tanisha Crasto, Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand, Rutaparana-Swetaparna Panda, and B Sumeeth-Sikki Reddy. Aakarshi Kashyap has been elevated from the reserves to the women’s singles main draw following several withdrawals in the event.

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