Asian Games 2026: Satwik-Chirag stunned in opener, Tanisha-Dhruv reach quarters

Defending champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty suffered a shock opening-round exit at the Asian Games on Friday, while Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila advanced to the mixed doubles quarterfinals in Nagoya.

The former world No. 1 pair won the opening game against Thailand’s Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Peeratchai Sukphun but could not close out the contest, losing 12-21, 21-19, 21-14 after 68 minutes.

The Thai pair fought back in the second game and carried the momentum into the decider to complete a major upset against the defending champions.

Tanisha and Dhruv, meanwhile, secured their place in the last eight with two wins. They began with a 21-8, 21-7 victory over Maldives’ Nibal Ahmed and Aminath Nabeeha Abdul Razzaq before edging Malaysia’s Shevon Jemie Lai and Soon Huat Goh 22-20, 24-22.

They will next face China’s Yan Zhe Feng and Dongping Huang in the quarterfinals.

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also progressed in women’s doubles after beating Hong Kong’s Hiu Yan Tsang and Lok Lok Lui 21-16, 16-21, 21-16.

Earlier, Unnati Hooda advanced to the second round with a 21-9, 21-10 win over North Korea’s Mi Song Yu.

Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun are also scheduled to face Indonesia’s world No. 2 pair Fajar Alfian and Shohibul Fikri later on Friday.

India’s Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi, however, were eliminated after losing 21-9, 21-5 to Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspitasari.

India’s shuttlers had contrasting fortunes in the team events, with the women missing out on a medal and the men securing bronze.