Opening round exit for Satwik-Chirag, Aakarshi; bows out of Singapore Open

Singapore: The top-seeded Indian pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty lost 20-22, 18-21 to the world-ranked 34-split Swiss pair, Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard, to exit the Singapore Open BWF Super 750 in the first round.

Aakarshi Kashyap earlier in the women's singles match fell 19-21, 20-22 to Thai player Pornpicha Choeikeewong in the Round of 32. Satwik-Chirag went down fighting in a closed encounter that lasted for 47 minutes.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who ascended to the top of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) men's doubles rankings last week after a remarkable victory at the Thailand Open Super 500 in Bangkok, had a game point in the first game but could not convert and went on to lose the match, IANS reported.

Satwik and Chirag conceded the lead in the first game itself as they went behind 0-2 and then 2-5 before their opponents surged to a 4-9 lead and extended it to 6-12, winning four points in a row.

The Indian duo fought back superbly and cut down the gap to 10-12. Scores went neck and neck before Satwik and Chirag tied the scores at 17-17. They had a game point at 20-18 before the Swiss duo came back strongly to win the next four points and win the game 22-20.

Satwik and Chirag took an early lead before Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard caught up with them. Scores went neck-and-neck after that with the Indians having a slight edge at 12-10 and 15-13. But the Swiss stars fought back from 16-17 and went on to win the game at 21-18 to wrap up the match.