Pathumwan, May 15: India’s top men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, advanced to the semifinals of the Thailand Open on Friday.
The top-seeded Indian duo defeated Japan’s Takumi Nomura and Yuichi Shimogami in a match that lasted 41 minutes, winning with scores of 21-12, 21-13. This marks their first semifinal appearance at a BWF World Tour event in 2026.
Playing against the Japanese pair for the first time, Satwik and Chirag took control early on, establishing a remarkable 10-0 lead in the first game.
Although the Japanese duo made a slight comeback after the interval, reducing the deficit to 10-14, the Indian pair quickly regained their advantage and closed out the first game comfortably.
The second game was more competitive, with the Japanese team staying within two points for most of the first half. However, Satwik and Chirag maintained their composure, gradually extending their lead to secure the match decisively.
In the semifinals, Satwik and Chirag will face either Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin or Scotland’s Christopher Grimley and Matthew Grimley.
On the other hand, PV Sindhu faced defeat against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi. Sindhu lost with scores of 21-19, 18-21, 15-21.
Starting with a strong head-to-head record of 15-11 against the Japanese star, Sindhu managed to win a tightly contested first game, taking the lead after a back-and-forth exchange that leveled at 19-19.
In the second game, Sindhu appeared strong, leading by four points at the mid-game interval. However, a series of unforced errors allowed Yamaguchi to turn the tide, winning seven consecutive points. The Japanese player then clinched the third game, securing the match after 61 minutes of play.
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