Thailand Open 2026: Satwik-Chirag make first final of the year; credit Thomas Cup for confidence boost

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made their way into the final of the 2026 Thailand Open Super 500 on Saturday.

Rankireddy and Shetty, who have won the tournament twice before, defeated Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin 19-21, 22-20, 21-16 in a hard-fought semi-final battle.

The Malaysians had the better start in the opening game, taking control from 7-7 to open up a six-point lead at 15-9.

Although the Indians attempted to narrow the gap in the latter stages, the Malaysian pair held firm to take the game 21-19.

A closely fought second game saw both pairs battle for points, with Rankireddy and Shetty reaching game point at 20-18. Refusing to back down, Goh-Nur duo saved two game points to level the scores, only for the former world No 1 from India to clinch the game 22-20 and force a decider.

Champions in 2019 and 2024, Rankireddy and Shetty then dominated the third game, sealing a comfortable 21-16 victory to book their place in the final.

The tournament marks the first final of the 2026 season for Rankireddy and Shetty, who have battled injury concerns this year.

"We are used to it [injuries] now," Rankireddy said with a laugh after their win.

"There was a time when we thought why it's happening, but later on I realised its a part and parcel of the way we play our attacking game," he added.

The duo agreed that the podium finish at the 2026 Thomas Cup earlier this month gave them a much-needed momentum and confidence boost.

"The bronze at the Thomas Cup especially really boosted our confidence and we are playing our first final," said Shetty.

The Indian pair will next face the winner between Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin and China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu in the title clash on Sunday.