Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, India's world No. 4 men's doubles pair, claimed the Singapore Badminton Open 2026 title on 31 May, defeating Indonesia's world No. 3 pair Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 18-21, 21-17, 21-16 in a 73-minute final. The victory ended a two-year title drought for the Indian pair and made them the first Indian doubles team to win the Singapore Open.

Historic Win for Indian Doubles

The triumph marks Satwik-Chirag's ninth BWF World Tour title and their first since the 2024 Thailand Open, also won in May. The Singapore Open had previously been won by Indian players only in singles — Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, and B Sai Praneeth — making this a landmark result for Indian doubles badminton.

The win also carries added weight given the pair's recent near-misses: three final defeats over the past two seasons, including a loss earlier this month at the Thailand Open.

How the Final Unfolded

Satwik-Chirag faced a difficult opening, conceding the first game despite leading at stages, as Alfian-Fikri closed strongly from 17-18 to take it 21-18. The Indians regrouped in the second game, using a decisive mid-game surge to level the contest at 21-17.

In the decider, the Indian pair established a four-point lead at the interval. Although Alfian-Fikri fought back to narrow the gap to 14-13, Satwik and Chirag held their nerve, winning seven of the next 11 points to seal the match.

Prannoy's Tribute: 'A League of Their Own'

HS Prannoy, who himself competed in Singapore, paid tribute to the duo on X. 'The leading badminton nations have depth. Multiple pairs in the top 20 and world-class sparring partners every day. India has one. Yet Satwik and Chirag keep conquering the biggest stages. That's what makes this Singapore Open title so sweet. In a league of their own,' Prannoy wrote.

Prannoy highlighted the structural challenge India's top doubles pair face — competing without the domestic sparring depth available to rivals from Indonesia, China, and South Korea — making their sustained excellence all the more remarkable.

India's Broader Singapore Campaign

Outside the doubles draw, India's Singapore Open campaign ended at the singles quarter-finals. Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu both exited at the quarterfinal stage, making the doubles title the standout result of the week for the Indian contingent.

Prannoy himself won his opening-round match against Jonatan Christie before falling to eventual runner-up Loh Kean Yew in the second round. With this Singapore Open title, Satwik-Chirag have reasserted their place among the world's elite doubles pairs ahead of the remainder of the 2026 BWF World Tour season.