Daijiworld Media Network- Paris
Paris, Sep 2: India’s men’s doubles pair Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, popularly known as the SatChi duo, ensured the country did not go medal-less at the world badminton championships in paris by winning the bronze medal last week. The world No 9 pair defeated two-time Olympic medallists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia in the quarterfinals, marking their second world championships medal.
Reflecting on their win, chirag described it as a moment of redemption, especially since they had faced heartbreak at the same venue during last year’s Olympics. “Winning that match in two straight games definitely gave us a huge boost and was a sort of redemption for last year's Olympic Games,” Chirag told PTI.
Their journey to the final was halted by China’s 11th seeds Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi, who defeated the Indian pair in the semifinals. Despite this, the bronze medal adds Chirag and Satwik to the elite list of Indians with multiple World Championship medals, alongside Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu.
Chirag said, “It feels really special knowing that we would be joining Saina and Sindhu as the only other players to have won multiple medals at the World Championships. This win gives us hope and shows that the hardships of the past year are worthwhile.”
The semifinal clash saw the Indians losing the opening game 11-6, bouncing back in the second, but falling behind early in the decider. Chirag noted, “The momentum shifted in the deciding game. They served really well, and once someone is not under pressure, they just play freely. Looking back, we should have held back a little and attacked on the second or third shot rather than pressing for the kill from the first stroke.”
The medal extends India’s streak of podium finishes at the World Championships since 2011. Chirag also praised other Indian players, including HS Prannoy, who almost defeated the world No 2.
Looking ahead, the duo is focused on regaining peak fitness. “Our short-term goal is to be physically at our best. Once that’s achieved, we aim to reach a final in a tournament and play the season-ending World Tour Finals as deep as possible,” Chirag said.
The past year has been challenging for the duo, marked by injuries and personal losses. Satwik suffered back and elbow injuries and faced personal tragedy with the passing of his father. Chirag struggled with a recurring back injury, making consistent training difficult.
“We’ve had a tough journey with ups and downs, both personally and on court. We’ve not been able to train at 100 per cent, but we are on the right track and hope to break barriers soon,” Chirag said.