Bangkok

India’s star men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty produced a display of grit, resilience, and composure under pressure to storm into the final of the Thailand Open after an intense three-game victory over Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin on Saturday.

The world No. 4 Indian combination, champions here in 2019 and 2024, battled through a gripping semifinal lasting 82 minutes before overcoming the ninth-ranked Malaysian duo 19-21, 22-20, 21-16.

The hard-fought victory sends Satwik and Chirag into their third Thailand Open final and marks their first title clash of the season.

The Indian pair will now face either Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin or China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu in the championship match.

Coming into the semifinal with a dominant head-to-head record over the Malaysians, the Indian duo once again showed why they remain among the most formidable pairs on the world circuit, registering their eighth victory over Goh and Izzuddin.

The opening game began at a frantic pace, with the Malaysians asserting themselves early through aggressive net play and sharp attacking returns. Although Satwik and Chirag stayed within touching distance during the initial exchanges, a series of unforced errors allowed their opponents to build a healthy lead.

The Indians attempted a late comeback, cutting down the deficit with a flurry of attacking points, but the Malaysian pair held their nerve to edge the opening game 21-19.

The second game proved to be an even tighter contest, with both pairs trading points in lightning-fast rallies filled with powerful smashes, reflex blocks, and precise placement.

Satwik and Chirag gradually found their rhythm, mixing power with tactical variation to create a slender advantage midway through the game.

However, the Malaysians refused to back down and pushed the contest to the limit.

At 20-all, the Indian pair produced one of the most memorable rallies of the match, defending relentlessly before forcing the decisive error to claim the game 22-20 and level the semifinal.

With momentum now firmly on their side, Satwik and Chirag came out firing in the decider.

Taking greater initiative, especially through Satwik’s aggressive attacking play, the Indians raced ahead after stringing together a run of consecutive points, capitalising on a series of Malaysian errors.

By the mid-game interval, they had opened a commanding cushion that ultimately proved decisive.

Though Goh and Izzuddin attempted one final comeback, reducing the gap in the closing stages, the Indians remained composed.

A thunderous cross-court winner from Satwik brought up multiple match points before Chirag sealed the contest with a clinical finish at the net.

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The victory underlined the Indian pair’s ability to deliver under pressure and keeps alive their hopes of capturing another Thailand Open crown.