Satwik-Chirag withdraw from Denmark Open, go down in world rankings

Indian top men’s doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty withdrew from the Denmark Open Super 750 tournament.

Currently ranked number seven in the world, Satwik/Chirag has entered the Denmark Open Super 750 scheduled for next week.

However, on Sunday evening, the Indian duo pulled out of the tournament with their names appearing in the withdrawal list on the BWF website.

The possible reason can be the shoulder injury of Satwik as the Indian duo has been away from action after the heartbreaking loss in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Entering the tournament as medal favourites, the Indian pair were knocked out in the quarter-finals by long-time rival Malaysian duo Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.

Despite taking the lead in the first game, Satwik/Chirag lost the three-game thriller 21-13,14-21,16-21.

Due to the time off from the BWF Circuit tournament, the Indian duo also lost ranking points and dropped four places in the World rankings.

Ranked third at the end of the Olympics, the Indian duo is ranked seventh in the world as per the latest BWF rankings after dropping four places.

Once they return to the BWF circuit, the Indian duo will be without their long-term coach Mathias Boe who ended the partnership after the Olympics.

While Satwik/Chirag’s return looks unlikely, Olympians Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu will return to action at the Arctic Open Super 500 tournament today while HS Prannoy is recovering from an injury.