Asian Games 2023: Satwik-Chirag Shockingly Eliminated in Men's Doubles

Badminton: Defending Champions Satwik-Chirag Out in First Round

In a surprising turn of events, the defending champions Satwiksairaj Reddy and Chirag Shetty faced an unexpected first-round exit in the men's doubles badminton event at the Asian Games. They were defeated by Thailand's Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul on Friday, with the match concluding at 21-12, 19-21, 14-21 in the Round of 32.

The Indian duo started the match on a strong note, establishing an early lead of 11-5 in the first game and eventually winning it 21-12 in just 20 minutes. Their sharp movements and quick rallies kept the Thai opponents under constant pressure during this phase.

However, the dynamics shifted in the second game as the Thai pair took a brief lead at 8-7. The Indian players managed to equalize at 8-all and even recovered from an 11-9 deficit to level the score at 11-all. Despite their efforts, Sukphun and Pakkapon maintained their composure and secured the second game 21-19, pushing the match into a deciding game.

In the final game, Satwik and Chirag struggled to regain their earlier dominance as the Thai duo played aggressively. Sukphun and Pakkapon surged ahead with an 18-14 lead and ultimately clinched the decider 21-14, marking a significant upset. This defeat ended the Asian Games journey for the defending champions, who were considered strong contenders for a medal.

The Thai pair's victory allowed them to advance to the next round, while the Indian duo exited after a hard-fought three-game match.

Other Indian Successes at the Games

In contrast, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto advanced to the quarterfinals of the Individual Event, defeating the 10th-ranked pair from Malaysia, Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jamie, with scores of 22-20, 24-22. They are set to face the top-ranked Chinese duo, Feng Yang Zhe and Huang Dong Ping, on September 27th.

India also celebrated a successful day at the Asian Games, with shooting events yielding the country's first gold medal. Kamaljeet and Suruchi Inder Singh triumphed in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, while Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudrankksh Patil, and Niraj Kumar secured silver in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions team event. Tomar and Niraj later finished fifth and eighth, respectively, in the individual finals.

Additionally, medals were confirmed in table tennis and squash. Diya Chitale and Manush Shah reached the mixed doubles semifinals after defeating Hong Kong's Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem, while Joshana Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar also earned a mixed doubles medal in squash. Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh progressed to their respective singles semifinals in squash, although Veer Chotrani was eliminated by Pakistan's Muhammad Irfan in the men's singles quarterfinals.

In kabaddi, both Indian teams secured spots in the finals, with the women's team overcoming Nepal and the men's team defeating Thailand. The women's hockey team also achieved a 3-1 victory against Japan in their Pool B match.

In badminton, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won their opening match, while Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto and Unnati Hooda also advanced. Several Indian athletes made progress in swimming, surfing, and canoe sprint, with Sajan Prakash qualifying for the men's 200m butterfly final and Rishabh Das and Utkarsh Patil advancing in the 200m backstroke. However, there were exits in fencing, table tennis, swimming, canoe sprint, and esports, including the shocking first-round defeat of Satwik and Chirag.