India’s Lakshya Sen secured his first Super 500 title by winning the India Open with an impressive straight-games victory over reigning world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in the men’s singles final in New Delhi on Sunday.
Earlier, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty became the first home pair to win the India Open men’s doubles title after toppling three-time world champions Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan
The 20-year-old Sen, who had claimed his first world championships medal (also on debut) with a bronze in Spain last month, produced a fine performance to outshine the fifth seeded shuttler 24-22 21-17 in the summit clash that lasted 54 minutes.
In a repeat of last year’s Dutch Open final, the Indian ensured that he had the last laugh this time around.
Going into this match, the two had a 2-2 head-to-head record with Sen losing two of the last three meetings, but the Indian was the better man on show on Sunday as he showed great athleticism, used his attacking shots to good effect and came up with his punched winners from the back at the right moments.
The world number 10 Indian pair, who had won its first Super 500 tournament in Thailand in 2019, downed the top seeded Indonesian pair 21-16 26-24 in 43 minutes.
Coming into the match with a 1-3 head-to-head record, Satwik and Chirag dished out a brave effort against their idols as they staved off a fightback to reign supreme in the final.
From almost missing the tournament following a false COVID positive result (Chirag) to winning the title, it turned out to be an incredible start to 2022 for the Indian pair, which accumulated valuable ranking points ahead of a busy season, which comprises some big-ticket events such as the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
The Indian pair started on a positive note and even through the Indonesian combination clawed back, Satwik and Chirag ensured they are two points ahead at the first interval.
The Indians tried to engage their rivals in rallies and led 18-13 but the Indonesians reduced the deficit to 16-18 before Satwik and Chirag prevailed in the opening game.
Fast-paced but short rallies were the norm in the second game as well as Ahsan and Satiawan grabbed a three-point lead at 9-6 early in the second game.
But the Indian pair again ensured they have the advantage at the break, grabbing a slender 11-10 lead. Sawtik and Chirag maintained the intensity in the rallies after the break to lead 15-13.
The veterans again drew to parity at 17-17 but Satwik and Chirag moved to 19-17 when Ahsan erred at net. But Chirag went long next as it was 19-19. Indonesians managed to move to a game point with a tap by Ahsan.
What followed next was frequent exchange of points as both India and Indonesia earned and squandered their advantage positions in equal measure.
After a fierce battle, it was the Indian pair who showed better nerves to emerge victories with the Indonesia squandering five game points.
Satwik and Chirag had won the Thailand Open Super 500 title in 2019, besides reaching the finals at French Open Super 750 the same year. The duo also claimed the silver medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, besides winning the Hyderabad Open Super 100 and finishing runners-up at Syed Modi International in 2018. Satwik and Chirag also played a crucial role in India earning the historic mixed team gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The Indian pair also had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics last year but couldn’t cross the group stage despite winning two out of three games.
(With PTI inputs)
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