Paris: Indian badminton duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty showcased their exceptional prowess on the court as they secured the men’s doubles title at the French Open 2024, marking their first championship victory of the year.
Facing formidable opponents from Chinese Taipei, Lee Jhe Huei-Yang Po Hsuan, the Indian pair delivered a masterclass performance, sealing the victory in just 36 minutes with a convincing 21-11, 21-17 scoreline. Despite a brief setback while trailing 9-11 in the mid-game interval of the second game, Rankireddy and Shetty demonstrated resilience and skill to claim the title.
This triumph at the French Open 2024 not only represents their inaugural championship in 2024 but also marks their seventh world tour title. The dynamic duo had previously reached two finals earlier in the year and had a historic win at the French Open in 2022.
The Adidas Arena, the venue for the badminton event at the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024, witnessed the Indians’ imperious form as they clinched the first game in a mere 15 minutes with a dominating 21-11 margin.
Their opponents, the unseeded Taipei pair of Lee Jhe Huei and Yang Po Hsuan, proved to be formidable contenders throughout the tournament. Despite being unseeded, their No. 16 ranking was a deceptive representation of their skills. Lee, a former top-10 player paired with Lee Yang, one-half of the Olympic Champion pair, had recently triumphed at the German Open.
The Taipei pair continued their stellar performance in France, defeating two former world No. 1s, Wang Chang-Liang Wei Keng (second seeds), and Muhammad Rian Ardianto-Fajar Alfian (seventh seeds). In a remarkable display of skill and determination, they overcame former World Champions Yugo Kobayashi-Takuro Hoki (sixth seeds) on Saturday, staging a comeback from 13-19 down in the second game to secure a straight-game victory.
Known for their aggressive playing style, the Taipei duo’s red-hot form and recent successes set the stage for a thrilling men’s doubles final at the French Open 2024. However, Rankireddy and Shetty’s exceptional performance ultimately proved too much for their opponents, securing the coveted title in commanding fashion.