Raipur shuttler pair clinches mixed-doubles gold at Saint Denis Reunion Open

Raipur: In a proud moment for Indian badminton, Raipur shuttler Ishaan Bhatnagar and his partner Shruti Mishra clinched the gold medal in the mixed doubles event at the Saint Denis Reunion Open 2026 badminton tournament.The top-seeded Indian duo defeated Denmark’s Gregoire Deschamps and Iben Bergstein in straight games in the final.Bhatnagar and Mishra wrapped up the summit clash with a clinical 21-17, 21-19 victory in 35 minutes at the Gymnase Champ Fleuri. The Indian pair maintained composure during the crucial moments of the second game to prevent their Danish opponents from stretching the match into a decider.The title clash began with both pairs trading points before the Indians capitalised on errors to secure the opening game. In the second game, the Danish pair mounted a strong challenge, but Bhatnagar and Mishra produced quick placements and decisive net play to seal the match.The tournament campaign remained dominant for the Indian duo, who dropped only one game throughout the event. In the opening round of 32, they defeated Singapore’s Kriston Jun Hao Choo and Xiao En Heng 21-18, 21-13. They followed it with a comprehensive 21-7, 21-7 victory against local favourites Beryl Roche and Johanne Bakalara in the round of 16.The quarterfinals saw them cross paths with compatriots Sathwik Reddy Kanapuram and Radhika Sharma, whom they defeated 21-13, 21-14. The only major test came during the semifinal encounter against France’s Natan Begga and Elsa Jacob, where the Indians dropped the first game before bouncing back to register a 15-21, 21-19, 21-10 victory in a 50-minute battle.Speaking after the podium ceremony, Bhatnagar said winning another international title is a proud moment for the team. He added that every match posed distinct challenges, expressing gratitude for the support from fans as they strive for success on the international stage.The victory added to India’s successful run at the BWF International Challenge event in France, further consolidating the nation’s rising prospects in the mixed doubles circuit.