Chirag Shetty returns to international action playing two tweeners in win

Shetty who had gone through a torrid time recovering from back issues, looked sharp alongside Satwik, and even packed in two moments of magic during the Round 1 opener

Written by Shivani Naik

Updated: May 28, 2025 08:41 PM IST

4 min read

Satwik-Chirag in action. (BWF/Badminton Photo)

Chirag Shetty has had a tough few months, dealing with injuries and alongwith the bereaved Satwiksairaj Rankireddy who lost his father, the duo are going through perhaps the toughest phase of their careers.

But returning to action at the Singapore Open Super 750, Shetty made up for many days spent away from the high of competitive action, as the Indian aces defeated Malaysian Choong Hon Jian and Haikal Muhammad 21-16, 21-13 on their return.

Shetty who had gone through a torrid time recovering from back issues, looked sharp alongside Satwik, and even packed in two moments of magic during the Round 1 opener.

In a video that has since become viral, Shetty is seeing on the left side during a parallel defense, and in a neat sumo squat, with sharp low returns. He sends a side swat on his right and picks the next one as a tweener, frim inches off the ground with minimal movement of his eyes and stance.

Shetty later told the Indian Express there were two of the tweeners on the day and nailing them was a boost to his confidence. “I don’t think anybody actually practices a tweener. But I got two in the match and both resulted in a point so I’m really happy that it worked out well,” he said.

It was the 15th shot of the intense rally where the Indians looked focussed and the Malaysians reckoned tgey had theyr man but Shetty pulled off an absolute trick. He quipped that he hadn’t ever reallypracticed it, but saw it as a good sign. “It’s a reflex but it definitely gives you a boost when you get such a point. Normally you would expect to lose such a point but if you get it then it’s definitely a boon and even for the opponent it’s a deterrent. So it really works well if it actually goes,” he said.

On the duo’s comeback, Shetty said it was a buzzy feeling and the crowd welcomed them warmly in Singapore where they are quite popular. “The return to competition feels really good. With the crowd and here in Singapore it feels great. We are really looking forward to the next round.The past few months have been tough but I’m happy to be back,” he said.

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Their rankings have slid to out of Top 25, but the duo is confident they will be back amongst the best in no time. On Thursday, the top Indians play World No 8 from Indonesia.

The Indian pair will need to battle Indonesian World No 8 pair Sabar Gutama and Moh Reza Isfahani (29/26), in what can be a tricky second round. Having dropped to World No 27, the Indians have a lot of catching up to do but are under no pressure and will prioritise staying fit and healthy first.

The Indonesians operating at a bruising pace, were barely in Top 30 same time last year, but have gone as high as No 7 this month. They are second amongst 3 Indonesian pairs in Top 10.

They created a stir at the All England getting rid of Chinese Liang-Wang and drubbing another Chinese pair of Hyang-Liu next round. They were a handful against Chinese He-Ren at the World Tour Finals last year, and topped Aaron-Soh in the flat game too.

Shivani Naik

Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball. Professional Profile Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express. Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium. Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025) Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond: Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style. PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps. The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals. Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas. Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes. Notable Recent Articles BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025) The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025) Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025) Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025) Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025) Other Sports Interests Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts. You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More

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badminton Chirag-Satwik Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty