New Delhi: India’s celebrated men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty fell short in the final of the Thailand Open after suffering a straight-games loss to Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin on Sunday.
The Indian duo went down 12-21, 23-25 in a contest where the Indonesians looked sharper for most of the evening in Bangkok. It was the first time Carnando and Marthin managed to beat Satwik and Chirag after losing their previous four meetings.
Satwik and Chirag struggled to find their usual attacking rhythm in the opening game as the Indonesian pair dominated the rallies and controlled the pace early on. The Indians fought back strongly in the second game and came close to forcing a decider, but Carnando and Marthin held their nerve during crucial points to seal the match in straight games, according to reports.
The defeat also extended Satwik and Chirag’s wait for a title, with the pair still searching for their first championship win in nearly two years despite another impressive run to the final.
Even in defeat, the Indian combination once again showed why they remain among the world’s top doubles teams, producing moments of aggressive net play and powerful smashes during the closely-fought second game.
The pair will now shift focus to the upcoming Singapore Open, scheduled to be held from May 26 to 31, where they will look to bounce back and continue their push for a long-awaited title.
