'Everyone beyond No.1 should stop playing if we are inconsistent': Chirag Shetty lashes out at critics after Singapore Open title

NEW DELHI: India’s star men’s doubles badminton pair, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, ended a 742-day wait for a BWF World Tour title by winning the Singapore Open. The former world No. 1 duo fought back from a game down to beat Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 18-21, 21-17, 21-16 in the final. It was their third Super 750 title and a reward after a difficult period that included injuries, four final losses and eight semifinal exits.Despite not winning a title for over two years, Chirag rejected suggestions that the pair had become inconsistent."I wouldn't call it inconsistency. I think we, on the contrary, were quite consistent. To be calling number three in the world inconsistent, I think everybody else beyond number one should stop playing badminton,” Chirag said.He explained that injuries and time away from competition affected their rhythm, not their quality. The pair even dropped to world No. 27 in June 2025 before climbing back to No. 3 by November."Yes, obviously, everybody enters the court to win. Likewise for us, we wanted to go out there and win titles. But it wasn't like we weren't able to, and it wasn't that we were playing badly or anything. It's just that maybe some days luck wasn't on our side."Satwik also pointed to injuries as a major challenge but said they are a normal part of elite sport. "It's part and parcel of the game. It's not like nobody will have injuries,” he said.The Singapore Open win came after the pair voiced disappointment over the lack of attention given to badminton achievements, including India’s Thomas Cup bronze medal. Chirag welcomed the increased coverage but said the sport deserves regular recognition.The duo also credited coaches Mathias Boe and Tan Kim Her for helping with match planning and tactical preparation. Looking ahead to the World Championships and the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, confidence is high."On a good day, we can beat anyone,” Satwik said.For now, the pair are focused on maintaining their form, with Chirag saying: "Right now it’s going well. Fingers crossed."