New Delhi, July 24, 2023.
The Korean city of Yeosu may long be remembered as the base camp from where Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty began their ascent to the impending World No 1 status. With their blazing attacking play, the current third-ranked Indian pair beat the World No. 1, 2 and 5 at the Korean Open Super 500 held from 18–23 July.
“It’s been a pretty good week for us. We played some amazing badminton and I am happy with the performance today,” said Satwik after winning the Korean Open title. “We want to continue with the same momentum next week at the Japan Open. So, we’ll go back now, rest and focus again.”
The Korea win is the Indian pair’s sixth consecutive victory after they lost the French Open finals three seasons ago. It’s been a no-break run ever since — with the next French Open, then the Thomas Cup, the Swiss Open, the Asian Championships, the Indonesian Open and now Korea.
At the Korean Open, besides their comfortable straight-set win against the Japanese No. 5 pair, Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi, the Indians also beat the World No. 2 Chinese Liang Wei Keng and Chang Wang, a victory they had so far been elusive.
With that, Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo of Indonesia remain the only top pairing against whom the Indian duo has never won.