ndia suffered a major setback in badminton at the Asian Games 2026 after defending men's doubles champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were eliminated in the opening round of the individual competition on September 25.
The fourth seeded Indian pair faced Thailand's Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Peeratchai Sukphun in their men's doubles Round of 32 match at the Asian Games in Aichi Nagoya, Japan. Despite winning the opening game, Satwik and Chirag were unable to maintain their advantage and eventually lost the three game contest 21 12, 19 21, 14 21. The match lasted one hour and eight minutes.
The result brought an early end to India's campaign in the men's doubles individual event for one of its most experienced pairs. Satwik and Chirag had entered the competition as the fourth seeds and were among India's leading medal contenders following their success at the previous Asian Games.
The Indian pair started the match strongly and quickly established control. Satwik and Chirag took the first game 21 12 after 20 minutes. Their strong start appeared to put them in a favourable position, but the Thai pair gradually adjusted to India's attacking style and began to challenge them more effectively in the second game.
The second game proved to be closely contested. Teeraratsakul and Sukphun managed to establish a four point advantage at 17 13. Satwik and Chirag then attempted a comeback and reduced the deficit to 18 19. However, the Indian pair could not complete the recovery, with the Thai combination eventually taking the second game 21 19.
That result forced the match into a deciding third game. The Thai players carried their momentum into the decider and quickly gained control. Satwik and Chirag struggled to reproduce the attacking performance they had shown in the opening game. Teeraratsakul and Sukphun eventually won the third game 21 14, completing the upset and securing their place in the next round.
The defeat means Satwik and Chirag will not be able to defend the men's doubles gold medal they won at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou. Their success in Hangzhou was a significant achievement for Indian badminton, as they became the first Indian men's doubles pair to win gold in the event.
Their early elimination also comes shortly after the Indian men's badminton team secured a bronze medal in the team event at the 2026 Asian Games. Satwik and Chirag had played an important role in India's team campaign, including a victory over China's reigning world champions Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang in the semifinal. India eventually lost the team semifinal to China 1 3 and finished with the bronze medal.
Before arriving at the Asian Games individual event, Satwik and Chirag had also produced strong performances on the international circuit. They entered the competition after winning the China Masters, defeating China's He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu in the final. That result had added to expectations surrounding their Asian Games title defence.
However, the first round against Thailand produced a different outcome. The Thai pair remained composed after losing the opening game and gradually changed the momentum of the contest. Their ability to recover in the second game and maintain control in the deciding game proved decisive.
For Satwik and Chirag, the defeat also highlights the competitive nature of the Asian Games badminton draw. Although the Indian pair had entered as the defending champions and fourth seeds, they faced a Thai combination capable of producing a strong performance over three games.
The individual badminton competition continues with several other Indian players still involved in the tournament. The men's and women's singles events, women's doubles and mixed doubles competitions provide further medal opportunities for the Indian contingent. The individual badminton schedule continues through September 29, with the semifinals scheduled for September 28 and the finals on September 29.
Satwik and Chirag's elimination does not affect India's bronze medal already secured in the men's team event. That medal was confirmed after India reached the team semifinal, where China defeated India 3 1. The individual men's doubles competition is a separate event, and the first round defeat therefore ends only the pair's campaign in that category.
The Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi Nagoya, Japan, with athletes from across Asia competing in multiple sporting disciplines. Badminton is among the events where India has traditionally competed for medals, making the early exit of the defending men's doubles champions a significant result in the tournament's badminton programme.
Satwik and Chirag will now leave the men's doubles competition without the opportunity to add another Asian Games gold medal to their record. Their previous title remains an important milestone in Indian badminton, while the 2026 result provides an early conclusion to their individual campaign at the Games.
The Thai pair of Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Peeratchai Sukphun, meanwhile, move forward in the men's doubles competition after recovering from their opening game loss. Their 21 12, 19 21, 14 21 victory over the fourth seeded Indians represents one of the notable results of the opening round.
