<p>New Delhi: Home favourites Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty went down in a tense final against world champions Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Sang Jae at India Open, settling for their second successive runners-up finish, here Sunday.</p>.<p>Satwik and Chirag, the Asian Games champions, lost 21-15 11-21 18-21 to Kang and Seo after the two pairs fought for 65 minutes in what was some breath-taking badminton at the KD Jadhav Indoor stadium here.</p>.<p>The Indian duo, which won the 2022 edition, had finished second best at the Malaysia Super 1000 last week as well.</p>.<p>Satwik and Chirag always had tough matches against their Korean rivals though they boasted a 4-1 head-to-head count in five meetings coming into the match with the latest being at the Malaysia Open last week.</p>.<p>The Indian duo played some breath-taking rallies, displaying amazing reflexes as they kept the Korean pair under the pump with some relentless hitting in the opening game.</p>.<p>Chirag dazzled in the front court with some brilliant net interceptions as the duo led 11-9 and soon jumped to 19-13 after the break before pocketing the game when the Koreans netted a shot.</p>.<p>The Indian pair made a sloppy start in the second, falling behind 1-5 but change of pace and angled returns helped them make it 5-7 with Satwik standing tall at the front court and producing a net kill.</p>.<p>A couple of net errors from Chirag during flat exchanges gave the Koreans a six-point advantage.</p>.<p>The Koreans defended well, while India's attack seemed to lose a bit of sting as Kang and Seo grabbed a 10-point advantage at 15-5. Kang stepped up with his serve and showed good variations. The Koreans held 10 game points and they converted in the second chance to roar back into the contest.</p>.<p>In the decider, the Koreans kept a high tempo with Kang flying across the front court as they lead 9-5. The Koreans didn't allow the Indians to play their attacking game.</p>.<p>Another exciting rally ensued with the Indians finding the net as Kang and Seo grabbed a five-point cushion at the interval.</p>.<p>After the change of sides, Satwik stepped up at the front court as the momentum seemed to change in India's favour with the Korean committing a service error and then finding the net.</p>.<p>The Koreans opted for low serve but Chirag was upto the task as they brought the equation down to two points at 13-15 soon. Satwik then sent one to the corners, while Chirag unleashed a smash as one point separated the two pairs at 15-16.</p>.<p>A superb low shot from forehand corner from Satwik was negated by Chirag's net error. Kang then sent one down the line to put themselves two point away from the title.</p>.<p>Kang found the net next, while Chirag dominated a flat exchange as it was 18-19. The Koreans grabbed two championships point when Satwik sent one wide.</p>.<p>It was all over when Chirag sent one to the net and fell on the floor.</p>
<p>New Delhi: Home favourites Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty went down in a tense final against world champions Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Sang Jae at India Open, settling for their second successive runners-up finish, here Sunday.</p>.<p>Satwik and Chirag, the Asian Games champions, lost 21-15 11-21 18-21 to Kang and Seo after the two pairs fought for 65 minutes in what was some breath-taking badminton at the KD Jadhav Indoor stadium here.</p>.<p>The Indian duo, which won the 2022 edition, had finished second best at the Malaysia Super 1000 last week as well.</p>.<p>Satwik and Chirag always had tough matches against their Korean rivals though they boasted a 4-1 head-to-head count in five meetings coming into the match with the latest being at the Malaysia Open last week.</p>.<p>The Indian duo played some breath-taking rallies, displaying amazing reflexes as they kept the Korean pair under the pump with some relentless hitting in the opening game.</p>.<p>Chirag dazzled in the front court with some brilliant net interceptions as the duo led 11-9 and soon jumped to 19-13 after the break before pocketing the game when the Koreans netted a shot.</p>.<p>The Indian pair made a sloppy start in the second, falling behind 1-5 but change of pace and angled returns helped them make it 5-7 with Satwik standing tall at the front court and producing a net kill.</p>.<p>A couple of net errors from Chirag during flat exchanges gave the Koreans a six-point advantage.</p>.<p>The Koreans defended well, while India's attack seemed to lose a bit of sting as Kang and Seo grabbed a 10-point advantage at 15-5. Kang stepped up with his serve and showed good variations. The Koreans held 10 game points and they converted in the second chance to roar back into the contest.</p>.<p>In the decider, the Koreans kept a high tempo with Kang flying across the front court as they lead 9-5. The Koreans didn't allow the Indians to play their attacking game.</p>.<p>Another exciting rally ensued with the Indians finding the net as Kang and Seo grabbed a five-point cushion at the interval.</p>.<p>After the change of sides, Satwik stepped up at the front court as the momentum seemed to change in India's favour with the Korean committing a service error and then finding the net.</p>.<p>The Koreans opted for low serve but Chirag was upto the task as they brought the equation down to two points at 13-15 soon. Satwik then sent one to the corners, while Chirag unleashed a smash as one point separated the two pairs at 15-16.</p>.<p>A superb low shot from forehand corner from Satwik was negated by Chirag's net error. Kang then sent one down the line to put themselves two point away from the title.</p>.<p>Kang found the net next, while Chirag dominated a flat exchange as it was 18-19. The Koreans grabbed two championships point when Satwik sent one wide.</p>.<p>It was all over when Chirag sent one to the net and fell on the floor.</p>