Singapore Open 2024: Satwik-Chirag's campaign ends in first round

The duo suffered a straight-game defeat against the Danish pair of Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard.

The start of the Singapore Open 2024 Super 750 tournament was marred by a series of disappointing exits for India’s top shuttlers on Tuesday.

In one of the biggest upsets of the day, the World No. 1 men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were stunned by the lower-ranked Danish duo of Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard. The Danes, currently ranked 34th globally, dominated large stretches of the match against the Indian top seeds.

Lundgaard and Vestergaard raced to an 11-6 lead at the interval in the opening game. Although Rankireddy and Shetty fought back valiantly in the second half, the Danes held their nerve, securing the first game 22-20 despite the Indians having two game points.

The second game started well for the Indians, with them leading 11-10 at the interval. However, a costly lapse in concentration allowed the Danes to claim four straight points from 16-17 down to setup four match points. Rankireddy and Shetty could only save one before succumbing 21-18, handing the Danes the biggest win of their career so far.

In men’s singles, Priyanshu Rajawat ranked 33rd in the world, also bowed out after a grueling 21-23, 19-21 loss to Hong Kong’s 16th-ranked Lee Cheuk Yiu. Rajawat fought tooth and nail, but was ultimately undone by Yiu’s superior court coverage and relentless attack.

Aakarshi Kashyap’s campaign in women’s singles ended in disappointment with a 19-21, 20-22 defeat at the hands of Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong, ranked 42nd globally. Kashyap showed glimpses of her talent; despite trailing 19-14, she made a comeback in the opening game to close the score and led 19-13 in the second. However, she couldn’t maintain her level, allowing the Thai shuttler to close out the match in straight sets.

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The young Indian duo of Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda also exited in the opening round of women’s doubles, losing 12-21, 21-12, 13-21 to the 35th-ranked Taiwanese pair of Chang Ching-hui and Yang Ching-Tun.

In mixed doubles, Ashith Surya and Amrutha Prathamesh were outclassed by Hong Kong’s Ng Tsz Yau and Reginald C.H. Lee, losing 8-21, 17-21 in a lopsided affair.

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