Satwik-Chirag Advance Singapore Open Second Round; Arjun Defeats Gukesh Norway Chess

Indian sports saw mixed results in recent international events, with notable performances and setbacks across badminton and chess. In badminton, the men's doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty started strong at the 2025 Singapore Open Super 750, winning their opening match despite their recent injury-related ranking drop. However, Lakshay Sen exited early after a mid-third game retirement, marking his third consecutive first-round loss, and Aakarshi Kashyap was defeated after a promising start against a top-seeded opponent. Meanwhile, in chess, world champion D. Gukesh continued a challenging season by losing his second consecutive match at the Norway Chess tournament, this time to compatriot Arjun Erigaisi, who has also defeated Gukesh earlier this year. Erigaisi has justified his invitation to the tournament with strong performances, including a win over China's Wei Yi, while Gukesh prepares to face American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura next. These developments reflect ongoing competitive pressures and opportunities for Indian athletes in global sports arenas.