Korea Open: Satwik-Chirag in final after defeating former world champion Chinese pair, close to third title this year

Star Indian pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty stormed into the final of the Korea Open Super 500 badminton tournament in Yeosu, Korea on Saturday. The duo pulled off a thrilling straight-game win over 2021 world champion pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang. The world number three Indian pair registered a 21-15, 24-22 win over the Chinese pair in a 40-minute match at the Jinnam Stadium. It was Satwik and Chirag’s first win after two consecutive defeats against the pair of Kang and Chang.

Satwik and Chirag have won Indonesia Super 1000 and Swiss Open Super 500 titles this year. They will face either top seeds Fajr Alfian and Muhammad Riyan Ardianto of Indonesia or Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae of Korea in the final.

Chance to win second consecutive title
The world number two Chinese pair Liang and Wang won the Thailand and India Open this year. The Chinese pair entered the match with a 2-0 win-loss record against the Indian pair. The Indian pair, however, executed their plan brilliantly this time. The Indian pair, who won their last tournament, the Indonesia Open in June, will now have a chance to make it two titles in a row.

We set out to give our 100 percent: Chirag Shetty
Chirag Shetty said after the match, “It is good to play another final. After getting out in the first round at the Singapore Open, we thought we would give our 100 per cent. Winning and losing is a part of the game but we don’t want to go back with the regret that we didn’t give our all.