Satwik-Chirag's Denmark Open 2025 Run Ends in Thrilling Semi-Final Loss to Japan

India’s men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, saw their Denmark Open 2025 campaign end in heartbreak on Saturday, October 18, after a hard-fought loss to Japan’s Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi in the semi-finals. The Asian Games champions gave a thrilling performance, bouncing back after the first game but ultimately losing 21-23, 21-18, 16-21 in a 68-minute epic filled with rapid exchanges and precise rallies.

Match Highlights

Coming into the contest with a 4-1 head-to-head advantage and winners of their last three encounters with Hoki-Kobayashi, Satwik-Chirag were favourites. However, the Japanese duo showcased superior coordination, precision, and strategy at crucial junctures to outplay the Indian pair.

• In the first game, Satwik-Chirag surged to an early 4-1 lead, but Hoki-Kobayashi staged a comeback to lead 11-6 at the interval. The Indians fought back to level the game at 19-all, but an error allowed the Japanese to clinch the game 23-21.

• The second game saw Satwik-Chirag regain control, taking a lead of 9-7, which they maintained to win 21-18, pushing the match into a decider.

• The deciding third game was fiercely contested. The score was tied at 5-5, but crucial errors allowed the Japanese pair to take a 17-13 lead, eventually converting four match points to win 21-16.

Performance Overview

Despite the loss, Satwik-Chirag demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill, thrilling fans with their fast-paced rallies and tactical gameplay. Their journey in the Denmark Open highlighted the strength of Indian men’s doubles badminton, even as the Japanese pair proved slightly sharper in key moments.

With this semi-final exit, India’s challenge at the Denmark Open 2025 concludes, but Satwik-Chirag continue to be one of the most promising doubles pairs on the international badminton circuit.