All England Championships 2024: Satwik-Chirag lose to former champions in pre-quarters within 44 minutes

London, Mar 14: India's top-ranked men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, faced an unexpected defeat in the pre-quarterfinals against Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and Bagas Maulana of Indonesia at the All England Badminton Championships on Thursday (March 14).

The defeat, coming in straight games, dashed hopes of a deep run in the prestigious tournament for the Indian duo as they were eyeing their maiden podium finish.

A Forgettable Outing for India's World No.1 Doubles Pair

Ranked as the world number-one pair, Satwik and Chirag entered the match with high expectations, especially after their recent triumph at the French Open. However, their Indonesian counterparts, former champions at the All England Badminton Championships in 2022, proved to be formidable opponents, clinching victory with a scoreline of 16-21, 15-21 within 44 minutes.

The match played at the United Arena in Birmingham, witnessed the Indian duo struggling to maintain their usual level of play, particularly in the frontcourt where they seemed unusually error-prone. Despite their efforts to narrow the gap, Fikri and Maulana seized an early lead in the opening game, ultimately securing the advantage and momentum by clinching the game.

The defeat marks a significant setback for Satwik and Chirag, especially considering their previous successes and their recent form leading up to the tournament. It also puts an end to their streak of reaching the final in all the tournaments they featured in throughout 2024, adding to the disappointment of Indian badminton enthusiasts.

India's wait at All England continues

Notably, this loss also deals a blow to India's aspirations of ending their prolonged wait for an All England champion since the triumphs of Prakash Padukone in 1981 and Pullela Gopichand in 2001. Satwik and Chirag's defeat highlights the challenges faced by Indian shuttlers in the international arena, where competition remains fierce and unpredictable.

The match against Fikri and Maulana marked the third defeat for Satwik and Chirag in seven encounters with the Indonesian pair, underscoring the competitive rivalry between the two teams. Despite a previous victory in Malaysia earlier in the year, the Indian duo failed to replicate their success on the grand stage of the All England Badminton Championships.

Other disappointments for India

Meanwhile, India's campaign at the tournament faced further disappointment with Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto's exit in the women's doubles competition. PV Sindhu - the two-time Olympic medallist - also suffered a defeat in the women's singles second round to bow out of the competition.

Sindhu suffered a defeat against the top-ranked An Se Young of Korea, falling to a 19-21, 11-21 loss. This extends Sindhu's losing streak to seven consecutive matches against the formidable An Se Young, who currently holds the title of World Championships champion.

Lakshya Sen Only Indian in Fray at All England

As the All England Open progresses, Indian hopes now rest on the shoulders of Lakshya Sen, who advanced to the men's singles quarterfinals after a hard-fought battle against Anders Antonsen. Sen's performance remains a beacon of hope for Indian badminton amidst the setbacks faced by the nation's top players.