Sat-Chi continue their golden run; wins Korea Open 2023
"We do not fear anybody; they might be thinking, 'Oh, we are playing Satwik-Chirag". The Indian duo walked the talk by beating Japanese Takuro Hoki-Yogo Kobayashi and Chinese Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang in quarters and semis in straight games before fighting back from a game down in the final.
Playing their second successive BWF World Tour final in a month, the Indian starlets made another startling statement by displaying tremendous fighting spirit against world no. 1 Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto in the Korea Open men's doubles final. It was their third World Tour title of the year.
Satwik-Chirag did not have the best start, however. They trailed for the entire opening game as Alfian and Ardianto gained control of the proceedings and troubled the Indians with measured body flicks and smashes. The Indonesians would take the first game lead, winning 21-17.
A shift in the momentum in Satwik-Chirag's favour for the rest of the match from six successive points. As a result, the second and third games would bear witness to their fighting spirit, which they displayed at the fag end of the opening game.
With their coach, Pullela Gopichand, helming the hot seat at the Jinnam Stadium in Yeosu, South Korea, Satwik and Chirag maintained their lead from the onset of the second game continuing it till the end, with their smashes landing frequently in the Indonesians' mid-court.