India’s only seeded badminton shuttlers, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (seeded five) crashed out of the All England Open 2026 in the Round of 32, losing to Malaysia’s Aaron Tai and Khai Xing Kang at the All England Open 2026 in Birmingham.
The World No. 4 pair went down 23-21, 21-12 in 42 minutes and crashed out of the competition. With this the Indian challenge in the men’s doubles
Early Advantage Slips Away For Indian Duo
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made a confident start, asserting themselves early to open up an 11-6 lead at the mid-game interval in the first set. Their sharp movement and attacking play initially kept the Malaysian pair on the defensive.
However, Aaron Tai and Khai Xing Kang responded with composure and determination. Gradually closing the gap, the Malaysians drew level at 16-16 and began to dictate the tempo. The momentum swing proved decisive as they edged ahead during the crucial exchanges. Although the Indian pair saved two game points in a spirited fightback, they were unable to prevent their opponents from clinching the opener in a tightly contested finish – a setback that shifted control of the match.
Malaysians Take Complete Control In Second Game
The second game unfolded in stark contrast to the first. Buoyed by their comeback, Tai and Kang carried their rhythm forward and quickly established authority. They entered the interval with an 11-7 cushion and continued to press their advantage, allowing the Indians little room to recover.
With relentless pressure and precise shot-making, the Malaysian duo conceded only a handful of points thereafter, sealing a convincing straight-games victory. For Rankireddy and Shetty, it marked a disappointing end after such a promising beginning.