The world-renowned Indian duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, put on a masterclass in Paris to win the French Open for the second time. They dominated the men's doubles final on Sunday, defeating Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan from Chinese Taipei in two straight sets. Having climbed from a second-place finish in 2019 to a championship in 2022, the top-ranked pair continued their success by winning the Super 750 event with a score of 21-11, 21-17. This victory, achieved in only 37 minutes, represents their first title of the current season.
India’s star badminton duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty had another spectacular evening in Paris, winning the French Open badminton title for the second time with a dominant straight-game victory against Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan in the men’s doubles final on Sunday. The world’s No.1 Indian pair managed to finish as runners-up in the French Open in 2019 before winning the title in 2022. The Asian Games champions defeated Lee and Yang 21-11, 21-17 in 37 minutes to reclaim the Super 750 event title and their first crown of the season, having reached the summit clash for the third time in 2023.
Throughout the match, Satwik and Chirag remained sharp, combining a relentless offensive attack with an ironclad defense during quick, intense rallies. Their pressure forced their opponents into frequent mistakes, leading to several wide shots and net errors, which helped the Indians build an 11-6 lead by the mid-game break. While Lee and Yang struggled with their serves, the Indian pair—led by Chirag's tactical precision—stayed composed. The lead grew to 14-6 after Yang mistimed a return from Satwik, sending it straight into the net.
As Lee and Yang tried to prolong the rallies, Satwik and Chirag countered with precise net shots, quickly pushing the lead to 17-9. Satwik's accuracy was on full display with a series of powerful smashes, including a brilliant frontcourt hit that brought the Indians within ten points of victory. The Commonwealth Games champions eventually sealed the set with a decisive cross-court smash.
The momentum shifted slightly after the end change, as Lee and Yang started aggressively to take a 4-1 lead. However, thanks to strategic guidance from their coach, Mathias, Satwik and Chirag quickly recovered to close the gap to 3-4. A serving error and a netted shot by the Taiwanese pair allowed the Indians to level the score at 5-5. Despite a few well-placed smashes from the opposition, the Indians regained control, leading 8-7 through a barrage of sharp, aggressive attacks.
Lee managed to intercept several shots at the front, allowing his team to hold a slim 11-9 lead going into the interval. After the break, a serving fault by the Taiwanese pair brought the score to a tie at 11-11. A clever tactical call by Chirag, who told Satwik to let a deep shuttle go, brought them to 14-14. From there, the Indians ramped up the intensity, pressing closer to the net and accelerating the pace to ultimately secure the win.