Tag: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy

  • Badminton: Satwiksairaj Rankiredy and Chirag Shetty rise to No. 1 in doubles rankings for 1st time in profession

    Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty scripted a chunk of badminton historical past as they turned the primary Indian doubles pair to be ranked No. 1 within the Badminton World Federation Rankings. Satwik and Chirag rose to the No. 1 spot in males’s doubles rankings after their sensational Gold medal-winning run on the recently-concluded Asian Games in Hangzhou.

    Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty rose 2 spots to turn out to be No. 1 within the males’s doubles rankings within the newest replace launched on Tuesday, October 10. Satwik and Chirag at the moment are forward of Indonesia’s Fajar Alfan and Muhammad Ardianto and the Chinese pair of Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang.

    Satwik and Chirag have turn out to be solely the 4th Indian badminton participant/pair to be ranked No. 1 within the BWF rankings. Legendary Prakash Padukone was No.1 in males’s singles rankings in 1980 after which Saina Nehwal reached the summit within the ladies’s singles rankings in 2015. Kidambi Srikanth was the final Indian participant to be ranked No. 1 – in 2018 in males’s singles.

    Satwik and Chirag now have 2282 factors greater than the second-ranked pair in males’s doubles rankings.

    Satwik and Chirag etched their names within the annals of historical past by clinching a gold medal within the males’s doubles occasion on the Asian Games 2023 final week.

    Satwik and Chirag have clinched some memorable victories up to now, together with the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold, the 2022 Thomas Cup title, and a bronze on the 2022 World Championships. The yr 2023 has been significantly fruitful for them, with victories on the Asia Championships, Indonesia Super 1000, Korea Super 500, and Swiss Open Super 300.

    Their triumph on the Asian Games, nonetheless, stands out as a historic milestone. It is India’s first-ever badminton gold on the Asian Games, a feat that has eluded the nation because the sport was included within the Games’ roster.

    Satwik and Chirag defeated Choi Sol Guy and Kim Won Ho of South Korea in straight video games within the ultimate to win Gold within the Asian Games in Hangzhou.

    Published On:

    Oct 10, 2023

  • Asian Games, badminton: Satwik-Chirag one win away from greatest title of their careers

    The rise of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty has been badminton’s equal of India launching its first-ever sounding rocket, that quantum soar for launch automobiles 60 years in the past. This story of the 2 towering shuttlers has all of the trial-and-error processes, all of the amateurish determining of what works and what doesn’t, and all of the skilled experience from completely different nations pieced collectively little by little, to lastly assemble an indigenous marvel.

    On Saturday, Satwik-Chirag play the largest last but of their careers – the Asian Games summit conflict, and several other eyes will probably be glued to TV units and cellular screens to look at if their golden dream is realised. They reached there beating the Malaysia duo of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 21-17, 21-12.

    The World No. 1 chart-topping eventuality will comply with in subsequent Tuesday’s rankings, however the eminently watchable doubles pair would need to win a title, a gold medal at Asia’s greatest Games, to stamp their supremacy slightly than a mere totalling of 5 digit factors. Chirag was 2, and Satwik simply born when the Leander Paes-Mahesh Bhupathi wave swept by way of to exhilarate Indians in a distinct racquet sport. The Asiad gold can do the identical for badminton.

    Watching this on loop 🔁🥳pic.twitter.com/yCOdBShKUV

    — BAI Media (@BAI_Media) October 6, 2023

    India doesn’t have a convention of world-beaters in doubles badminton, although Jwala Gutta-Ashwini Ponappa did win a Worlds bronze in 2011. Indian badminton’s greatest newsmakers for a very long time have been two girls in singles, and males’s badminton wanted a Thomas Cup in 2022 to get observed, the unassuming pairing a step behind the celebrities in singles.

    Satwik comes from Amalapuram in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, Chirag from Mumbai’s western suburb of Malad, and it was Malaysian coach Tan Kim Her who introduced them collectively. Danish doubles nice Mathias Boe introduced his always-ticking strategising mind and thorough sporting ardour to the combo, to show the tall duo into world-class shuttlers. Their physios and trainers are coping with a primary era of ravaging accidents and aches, typical to the doubles power-speed sport, and nonetheless studying a number of restoration and strengthening hacks alongside the way in which.

    They run into pedigreed Koreans within the finals, and India’s first males to make the Asiad last are up in opposition to a compulsive history-making nation.

    Opponent Choi Sol-gyu received the world juniors coming by way of a doubles system that has thrown up champions for greater than 70 years. Kim Won-ho’s mom is Gil Young-ah, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics blended doubles gold medallist, and the primary Korean girl to be head coach of knowledgeable workforce. When Kim tells the media after his semis, “Now we have one last game left, I want to win the gold medal no matter what,” he speaks bolstered by a legacy of profitable that runs by way of their blood.

    Another Korean pairing beat Satwik-Chirag within the workforce occasion, and although unseeded, Choi-Kim could have the complete may of an assembly-line system that scythed by way of rankings to win the World Championship title final month.

    Unstoppable power

    What the Koreans may run into is dizzying ambition and dazzling functionality in power-packed badminton, the fierce delight in trendsetting that the 2 Indians treasure and an unbridled fashion of attacking play that’s the envy of most doubles staples. Satwik-Chirag have been on an unstoppable smashathon after they received the Korea Open earlier within the yr, raining down energy hits and making retrieving inconceivable for opponents. The two have the world’s two quickest smashes, measured at a shuttle laboratory, and in matchplay.

    They received Indonesia, Korea and the Asian Championships, enjoying completely different types. When they thumped Aaron-Soh, the previous world champions in Friday’s semis, it was all geometric incisions with angles and placement in gaps, exploring the empty proper flank of the Malaysians. Satwik’s defence was compact within the entrance, and Chirag stomped with laser-beam precision thwacks from the back-court – they normally play in reverse positions.

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    The Malaysians have been left cribbing in regards to the Indian serve and time taken in reception, and have been slapped with a yellow card for the prattle. The Indians unfold out their assault to the entire courtroom and have been removed from predictable and resorting to slam-bang. Make no mistake, they ace the slams and bangs, however didn’t have to on the day, as a result of their racquet work struck lengths that pushed Aaron-Soh into awkward defending contortions.

    The Indians negated Aaron’s deft forearm, and annoyed Soh by swishing the shuttle previous his nostril. At one level, the Indians discovered themselves on the identical aspect of the courtroom, however Chirag sprinted throughout to cowl the opposite flank and discover a winner. Both bent low for the steep defence, and Satwik had a ‘tweener in a frenzied rally. He stood his floor when a string got here undone, ready to make use of his racquet body if required. The Indians received on pure geometry while not having to hit fifth gear of power-hitting.

    The Koreans will come armed with tactical nous chiselled over many years. The Indians will wind up realizing that regardless of being their nation’s first era of doubles professionals, they’re second to none

  • Not mere hopefuls, in-form Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty begin as sturdy favourites at Worlds

    India’s lengthy streak of steady medals on the Badminton World Championships started in 2011, with Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa’s shocking, gorgeous bronze. It has rolled onto yet one more bronze from doubles – an expectant one from Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in 2022 – bookending the streak. The bronze, because it turned out, was only the start of an excellent run.

    Following a spectacular first half of 2023, throughout which they gained a Super 1000 occasion, have been topped Asian Champions, and proceed to be in raging current type, profitable the Korea Open, the Indian duo head into the Copenhagen World Championship, beginning Monday, as sturdy favourites for not only a medal, however elevating actual hopes of a gold.

    It is a testomony to their consistency and big-match temperament {that a} nation that was endlessly keen about its singles stars is now pinning its greatest hopes on the doubles pairing, viewing them as gold contenders. The dominance in Korea final month, the place the present World No 2 Satwik-Chirag beat World Nos 5, 3 and 1 on three straight days to take the title, is an indicator of their functionality, and catapulted them into the Top 4.

    At this stage, any pairing can beat anyone relying on the day, and the Copenhagen gold would require them to reprise their type from Korea. “But the recent big wins add to the Indian confidence that when they meet their opponents the next time, Satwik-Chirag won’t make it easy for them,” says doubles coach Arun Vishnu.

    The Indians doubtlessly have Tenth-seeded Indonesians Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin in Round 3, a pairing the Indians have crushed earlier than. There’s a possible assembly with Malaysian fast fingers Ong Yew Sin /Teo Ee Yi or Danish mavericks Kim Astrup/ Anders Skaarup Rasmussen in quarters.

    A notable side of the Satwik-Chirag story is how they’re undeterred by vocal native crowd assist – be it in Indonesia in opposition to the top-ranked Alfian-Adrianto earlier within the 12 months, or on the final World Championships in opposition to Takuro Hoki – Yugo Kobayashi, who have been then defending champions taking part in at dwelling in Japan. The crowds rooting for his or her opponents appear to at all times carry the very best out of the Indians. “The opponents are tall and their shuttles were going from side to side. We could not keep up,” Hoki stated after the loss, echoing sentiments of a bunch of different pairings who’ve struggled in opposition to the Indians ever since they struck consistency.

    There’s presumably a tough semifinal in opposition to Chinese Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang, whom they beat for the primary time earlier final month to make sure the massive medal. “It’s a good draw till semis. We are expecting a medal from them and won’t be surprised if it’s a gold,” Arun says. “Plus Mathias Boe will be there,” he provides of the essential teaching asset who has remodeled this pair.

    Following a spectacular first half of 2023, throughout which they gained a Super 1000 occasion, have been topped Asian Champions, and proceed to be in raging current type, profitable the Korea Open, the Indian duo head into the Copenhagen World Championship, beginning Monday, as sturdy favourites for not only a medal, however elevating actual hopes of a gold.

    Great expertise & energy

    Indian doubles pairings over time have been recognized to be sensible on the internet, and good at simply the technical expertise earlier than the power-packed Satwik-Chirag arrived on the scene. It was the time when authorities spending on doubles was negligible, and combos would journey to at most six-eight tournaments in comparison with the 18-20 that they journey to, now.

    What has set the pair aside is simply how exhausting they’re hitting the shuttle. “Both are power hitters and well built. When they get into a rally at that pace and hit that hard, it is difficult for opponents to find a gap. In Korea, we were stunned watching from behind, that whenever a shuttle came and they were attacking, it was always a point. Whoever the opponent was, they were struggling against the Indians,” the coach remembers.

    While the duo have admitted they want extra work on protection, their assault is undiminished. “Not just their smashes, the power in their drives is something to marvel. At this level in Top 4, everyone hits hard, but it is fascinating to watch two Indians right up there, where opponents were struggling to cope with their smashes and drives,” Arun stated.

    The lead as much as the 2023 World’s has been spectacular since April when the Indians gained the Asian title. “Japan and Korea, they played really well. Physically they have improved a lot, strength-wise,” the coach says.

    Chirag’s steep smashing from the again court docket is an underrated however vital side. “His smash is really heavy, opponents expect a big one from Satwik, but Chirag hits equally hard,” he explains, whilst it’s evident that his hitting can achieve much more in power in coming months. But it’s his second stroke when receiving the service that actually catches opponents off-guard. “It’s the pace, placement and power with which he pounces on the serve and reacts. He catches it very well, and returns in a way that opponents don’t expect.”

    Part of that ability is pure, however Chirag’s additionally labored exhausting on catching the second stroke and changing it to set-ups or outright winners. Satwik too has developed as a participant who can management the in-between-rally phases very well.

    Indian doubles pairings over time have been recognized to be sensible on the internet, and good at simply the technical expertise earlier than the power-packed Satwik-Chirag arrived on the scene.

    Amongst the Top 4, all of it boils right down to who retains the assault, because you don’t get straightforward lifts, and the way you retain the shuttle down from mid-court. Satwik can energy by means of mid-rallies and speed up the aggression, even whereas everybody round at this stage is able to hitting exhausting on the kill shot, in what’s his next-level powerplay.

    Liang-Wang looming

    The relentless energy recreation will come in useful in the event that they should repeat their Korea Open type from July in opposition to potential semifinal opponents, the difficult Chinese Liang and Wang, at present World No 3. The Chinese would possibly’ve been blitzed at Korea, however had crushed the Indians twice beforehand firstly of the 12 months in Malaysia and on the All England. The India Open winners – a younger pair of 22-year-olds from China – have two three-sets wins, together with a 21-19 endgame pipping on the All England, over the Indians.

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    Decorated with junior world medals, their countenance appears misleading too. “Yes, the Liang fellow keeps smiling all the time on court, and appears relaxed, though he can suddenly hit very hard. We should not fall prey to their tactics on court. Indians have the experience of having beaten them and the consistency will help. Amongst the top pairs, you play them 20 times, it’s not that they will win all 20 times. But Satwik-Chirag learn quickly from their mistakes and fight for each point. They can beat the Chinese top pair and make the finals,” Arun assures.

    Three different pairings, contending for gold, are within the different half of the draw: top-ranked Indonesians Alfian-Adrianto, defending champions Aaron-Soh and Olympic champions Wang Chi-Lin and Lee Yang, who’ve been on a correct resurgence, profitable the Japan Open in fairly the combating trend – their first win after the Tokyo Games.

    The Indians have crushed the Indonesians persistently, defeated Malaysian Aaron-Soh within the finals of Indonesia Open this 12 months, and the Taiwanese Olympic champions again in 2021 at Tokyo. The Wang-Lee resurgence, nevertheless, consumed Satwik-Chirag of their swirl on the Japan Open final month. Should they arrive up in opposition to any of the three when making the finals, it guarantees to be a more durable battle for the gold than earlier encounters.

  • Satwik-Chirag pair achieves career-best World No 2 rating

    Fresh from profitable the Korea Open, India’s high males’s doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy on Tuesday rose to a career-best second spot within the newest BWF rankings.

    Satwik and Chirag gained a spot, displacing the Chinese pair of Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang whom they’d defeated within the Korea Open semifinals final week, to attain a brand new career-high rating within the males’s doubles circuit.

    The reigning Asian champions, who received the Korea Open (Super 500), Swiss Open (Super 300) and Indonesia Open (Super 1000) titles this season, now have 87,211 factors.

    Playing their fourth ultimate of the 12 months, Satwik and Chirag had rallied from a sport right down to defeat the world primary pair of Fajar Alfian and Muhamad Rian Ardianto within the Korea Open final week.

    The two haven’t misplaced a single ultimate this season and are on a 10-match unbeaten streak on the BWF World Tour.

    Meanwhile, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, who made an early exit from the Korea Open, has managed to carry on to her seventeenth spot within the singles listing.

    London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal, nonetheless, has dropped a spot to 37.

    HS Prannoy continues to be India’s top-ranked shuttler, occupying the tenth spot within the males’s singles rankings, led by Denmark’s Victor Axelsen.

    While Canada Open winner Lakshya Sen has slipped a spot to world quantity 13 after lacking the Korea Open, Kidambi Srikanth, who has been fighting type, stays on twentieth.

  • Korean Open in kitty, Satwik and Chirag elevate hopes for world title

    The Korean metropolis of Yeosu could lengthy be remembered as the bottom camp from the place Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty started their ascent to the upcoming World No 1 standing. With their blazing attacking play, the present third-ranked Indian pair beat the World No. 1, 2 and 5 on the Korean Open Super 500 held from 18–23 July.

    In the finals Sunday, Rankireddy and Shetty got here from behind towards the World No. 1 and All England champions, Fajar Alfian and Muhamad Rian Ardianto, to win 17-21, 21-13, 21-14.

    Sunday’s win ensures the Indian duo’s rise to World No 2 on Monday, when the rankings are out. Their coronation because the world’s high shuttler pair might be sooner, actually simply subsequent week, in the event that they win the Japan Open and Alfian-Ardianto lose earlier than the quarters.

    “It’s been a pretty good week for us. We played some amazing badminton and I am happy with the performance today,” mentioned Satwik after profitable the Korean Open title. “We want to continue with the same momentum next week at the Japan Open. So, we’ll go back now, rest and focus again.”

    The Korea win is the Indian pair’s sixth consecutive victory after they misplaced the French Open finals three seasons in the past. It’s been a no-break run ever since — with the subsequent French Open, then the Thomas Cup, the Swiss Open, the Asian Championships, the Indonesian Open and now Korea.

    At the Korean Open, apart from their snug straight-set win towards the Japanese No. 5 pair, Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi, the Indians additionally beat the World No. 2 Chinese Liang Wei Keng and Chang Wang, a victory that they had thus far been elusive.

    With that, Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo of Indonesia stay the one high pairing towards whom the Indian duo has by no means received.

    Also, India has by no means received the Asian Games or World Championships gold within the males’s part, and the duo from Mumbai and Amalapuram (Andhra Pradesh) is elevating hopes with the red-hot kind they’ve struck.

    “They are head and shoulders above the rest of the pairings, and not just in height…,” mentioned coach Pullela Gopichand. “They have a strong attack, both have a good serve and net game. The initiative they take in the first two three strokes and their intensity makes their attack world class. They are clearly up there, by and large, the best pair in the world.”

    In the course of their 10-match win streak thus far, throughout the Indonesian Open title triumph final month to Korea now, the Indian pair overturned previously dropping margins. In reality, your complete period of the Korean Open noticed the opposing groups wrestle in useless to defend towards the Satwik-Chirag assault, who simply needed to maintain the shuttle below the faucet.

    This was a steep departure from the sooner occasions when India dreaded crew championships in badminton due to weak doubles groups.

    Speaking to The Indian Express final month after the Indonesia Open triumph, Satwik-Chirag had mentioned, “We don’t fear the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans. They might be thinking ‘Oh shit we have to face Satwik Chirag’”.

  • Korea Open 2023 Final Live Updates: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty tackle Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto

    This was Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s first win over the Chinese pair following two earlier defeats. (FILE)

    In a blazing present of power-hitting mixed with canny placement, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty scored their first victory over China’s Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang in three conferences, to win the Korea Open semifinals. The Indians will play high ranked Fajar Alfian and Muhamad Rian Ardianto within the closing – their fourth of the yr after the Swiss Open, Asian Championships and Indonesia Open, all of which they’ve received. The World No 3 Indians are on a 9-match win streak, and need to win again to again titles at Yeosu, Korea after the Super 1000 at Jakarta.

    While all of the speak surrounds how arduous the Indians hit – and hit very arduous they do – Saturday was all about inciting anarchy in Chinese ranks hitting down the center with cross strokes. The Chinese have 27 wins from 34 matches this yr together with titles at Thailand and India Open, however had few solutions to the Indian assault on the day. The earlier two matches on the All England Round 2 and Malaysian semifinals had gone to 3 units however the Indians have been completely dominant of their 21-15, 24-22 win in 40 minutes.

    “It had been a close match at All England too (21-19 in the third), but Chirag-Satwik are a much improved pairing now, more matured,” mentioned Pullela Gopichand who was within the coach’s chair on the day. “They are playing to each other’s strengths and hitting harder than anyone else,” he added. (READ MORE)

  • We don’t worry Chinese, Koreans or Japanese; they is perhaps pondering, ‘Oh sh*t, we are playing Chirag and Satwik’

    Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty received the celebrated Indonesian Open final month, and are touted to usher in extra medals come the World Championships, Asian Games or the Paris Olympic Games. The World No 3 Indian pairing from Amalapuram and Mumbai have been breaking new floor in a rustic that’s predominantly identified for singles shuttlers, and are nice entertainers on court docket whereas at it.

    Mihir Vasavda: How has the journey been of navigating via the world of males’s doubles?

    Chirag: It’s been a fantastic, few weeks, months and even years. Our goal has not been to be the very best solely in India. We have by no means been happy with being the primary Indian pair to take action, by being the very best Indians to take action throughout classes. Our goal is to be the very best on this planet and to be thought to be the very best to have performed the sport.

    Looking at {our capability}, we will positively try this. I believe that is likely one of the driving forces. And that is likely one of the causes that our happiness solely lasts until the second we get off the rostrum. Once we’re off that podium, we look ahead to being on one other podium.

    Mihir Vasavda: How did your pairing work early on and what was the explanation you guys had been paired up?

    Satwik: Initially, it was powerful, Krishna (Prasad) and I had been doing nicely within the senior stage. We had been beating senior gamers and even Chirag and Arjun had been doing higher. We thought “why the coach was splitting us up? We are comfortable with our own partners.” Because particularly for me, I used to be extra snug with a Telugu man and he (Krishna) was a house city man so I knew him very nicely. And he performs entrance court docket and I play again court docket. We had understanding so I believed it (splitting up) wasn’t a good suggestion.

    Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in motion in the course of the Tata International match held at CCI in 2016. (Express picture by Kevin DSouza.

    I had a chat (with the coach) and he mentioned, “No, no, you have to change if you want to be world level players.” Initially after we paired up, it was fairly tough. There was confusion over our positions on who will play entrance court docket. And I used to be enjoying blended doubles too. Then Chirag took cost and he labored on it.

    Chirag: Both of us are from very completely different backgrounds. Our upbringing is completely different, our language is completely different. It was clearly very tough initially for the each of us to converse however our then coach Tan Kim Her used to say, “When you are partners, you are like a married couple. There will be problems between the two of you. Something the other partner wants, you may not like. But you are a team and you need to be together and accept the good and the bad.”

    Mihir Vasavda: You talked about the language barrier. We perceive on court docket, it’s simply the move and the rhythm however nonetheless, in early days how did you guys converse?

    Satwik: It was powerful. Normally once I used to play with my ex-partner, I used to make use of Telugu phrases whereas enjoying. When I began enjoying with Chirag, I needed to assume for one second “Ok, Hindi mein kya bolna hain,” “Haan bhai, aage ja”. It was fairly powerful for me to assume what I ought to say. Is this the proper phrase? With Krishna, it was really easy, it used to return naturally. Later on, it (partnership with Chirag) grew to become a lot simpler.

    Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty after claiming India’s first-ever Super 1000 title on the Indonesian Open in June 2023. (Photo: BWF through BAI)

    Shivani Naik: Can you describe enjoying on the Istora, it’s an iconic venue, you have got received there however how loopy is the noise, how was it to play the ultimate over there? Or to play within the quarterfinals over there the place you beat the Indonesians?

    Satwik: I believe the ultimate was 50-50. They had been supporting us in addition to the Malaysians however the semifinals was 10,000 folks to five. Only me, Chirag, coach, Gopi sir and our coach are supporting us. The others had been all supporting the Koreans. I don’t know in the event that they watched Korean dramas or one thing however they had been supporting the Korean guys.

    In quarterfinals, the identical scenario. When we entered they usually introduced our names, the gang was booing on a regular basis. It was mentally difficult as a result of the gang was so noisy and we couldn’t hear what our coach was saying. Sometimes, we couldn’t even hear what our companion was saying. So it’s all the time enjoyable enjoying in Istora and successful there is likely one of the greatest issues.

    Shivani Naik: Has Mathias Boe ever scolded you guys or screamed at you? Whether it’s throughout coaching session, and even throughout matches?

    Satwik: I don’t keep in mind him ever shouting severely. He says (issues) like ‘Get ready guys. Come on. Come on. Don’t be passive’ He by no means scolds however he shouts generally. On court docket he shouts generally simply asking us to be prepared, similar to a wakeup name.

    So, we will really feel some completely different vibrations at these time, when he’s saying that and motivating us so we’ll prepare to present our greatest. It isn’t a smooth nook sort of shouting however extra motivation. So other than that, he by no means scolds us after the match.

    Mathias Boe (proper) has been a continuing presence by the aspect of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. (PHOTO: BWF through BAI)

    Shivani Naik: You had been 0-8 (in opposition to Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik) going into that remaining. What was going via your thoughts as a result of that overwhelming head-to-head statistic was what we had been all speaking about?

    Satwik: That day I felt actually snug. I felt like I’m enjoying with new opponents. There wasn’t any head-to-head in my thoughts as a result of the scenario was completely different. We by no means performed in finals with them. We performed quarterfinals and most semifinals. In the ultimate, the strain can be extra for each groups, quite than simply us.

    I watched movies enjoying in World Championship semifinals (they misplaced in three tight video games final yr), how we performed with them. We had been so shut. I watched that match earlier than going into the ultimate. I noticed how they had been enjoying, what number of errors they had been making, how a lot strain they will take. I believed they are going to be beneath strain, like extra strain for them, not for us, we might simply exit and revel in.

    In my thoughts, I by no means thought it (head-to-head) is eight-zero. I believed it’s zero-zero and I’m enjoying with a brand new opponent, there may be nothing to fret, simply go and have enjoyable. So, it didn’t get into my head.

    Nihal Koshie: Satwik is meant to be calmer and extra composed. And Chirag somewhat extra emotional. How does this play out between factors and within the partnership between each of you?

    Chirag: Well, I believe it’s the story of ice and hearth. If I can put it that manner. I’m the one who’s much more aggressive, whereas Satwik is so much calmer, like ice. I believe that performs out fairly nicely. For the each of us. I believe our method to the sport is similar, like we expect alike about what we need to do and the way we have to rating factors. But our personalities on court docket are very, very completely different.

    Chirag Shetty says he’s the one who’s extra aggressive whereas companion Satwik is so much calmer. (PHOTO: AP/PTI)

    I really feel I play so much higher when I’m extra aggressive on the market. And whereas Satwik performs so much higher when he has his composure. He’s extraordinarily cool. I believe it enhances one another rather well. And I believe that is likely one of the the reason why we’ve had some good performances.

    Satwik: I’d say we’re sort of like Nadal and Federer. I’m a fan of Federer, Chirag loves Nadal. So that type, like I wish to be calm. Sometimes I attempt to be aggressive, however I can’t (laughs). Chirag is completely different. He simply received’t surrender. Like Nadal, he’ll carry on preventing for the purpose. Dive from right here to there, maintain the purpose alive, transfer everywhere in the court docket. I have a look at him and assume: ‘Kidha jaa raha hai Shetty bhai? Kidhar kood raha hai? (Where are you going Shetty bhai? Jumping here and there?)’

    Nihal Koshie: Mathias Boe retains noting down issues in a e-book in the course of the sport…

    Chirag: I believe the factor that he writes within the books are most likely our errors or most likely what the opponents have been doing fairly often. Usually, he’ll write down all the important thing factors earlier than we enter the court docket and tells us what we have to look ahead to, and what are the issues we want to remember – about our opponent and likewise about ourselves. He just about simply writes down the techniques for the match.

    Sriram Veera: There’s a narrative about you Satwik that while you had been a child, your father was within the stands for the 2009 World Championships in Hyderabad. At that point, China’s males’s doubles participant Fu Haifeng (who has received two Olympic golds and 4 World titles) threw his racquet (a Li Ning Turbo Charging N9) into the stands and your father caught it and introduced it house. Do you continue to have that racquet, and did that second in any manner show you how to as a child?

    Satwik: That was a turning level for me. My father was an umpire for BWF tournaments in 2009. That’s why he was on the Gachibowli Stadium. He completed officiating his assigned matches and was sitting within the stands for the lads’s doubles sport. He was sitting among the many Chinese followers when Fu threw the racquet, and my dad, being tall, leapt and caught it.

    Back then I didn’t know who it was. My father simply informed me it was from a Chinese doubles participant. So I began utilizing that racquet to play. I used it for nearly 4 years. Then I joined an academy. By that point, the racquet had damaged whereas enjoying. So I don’t have it anymore. From there I believe I acquired some genes, racquet energy! Fu was once often called an attacking participant and one of many hardest smashers.

    Sriram Veera: Did you ever meet Fu Haifeng after you began enjoying on the worldwide circuit?

    Satwik: We performed one another within the males’s doubles. But at the moment, we didn’t actually communicate. They don’t actually communicate English. He’s a legend, one of many greatest gamers on this planet, so we solely exchanged hello’s and and hi there’s from a distance. Nothing else.

    Sriram Veera: So you by no means informed him you had a racquet of his?

    Satwik: No, probably not.

    Despite a hostile Indonesian crowd, which was in opposition to the Indian pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty received the Indonesia Open title. (PHOTO: BWF through BAI)

    Amit Kamath: Satwik you spoke about how the gang was supporting the Koreans within the semi-finals. As a pair, do you guys thrive off that vitality that somebody is ‘hating’ on you or do you wish to be preferred?

    Satwik: For us, we all the time wish to play with crowds. We wish to show what we’re able to. And particularly in Indonesia, we wished to do nicely after that Thomas Cup victory. Lots of people name us ‘Kings of delay’ in Instagram feedback. When we entered the match, they had been booing us on a regular basis. I used to be watching the Indonesian opponent and laughing pondering, ‘Tereko bataunga aaj ruk ja’ (I’ll present you in the present day, wait and watch).

    Nobody was cheering for us. When I’d ask the umpire for the mop for the court docket, everybody would jeer us and say that we had been losing time. We all the time play higher when now we have the gang going in opposition to us.

    Amit Kamath: This is the period of a whole lot of gamers getting hate on social media. Do you guys take note of that or do you guys have a strategy to block that out?

    Chirag: It impacts you in some form of manner. When you win, everybody says you’re the very best and invincible. The second you lose, they’re like ‘You need to buck up’, ‘You cannot serve, you cannot smash’.

    Satwik: Badminton khelna nahi aata hai (laughs)

    Chirag: I snigger at a whole lot of these feedback. Especially in the course of the Sudirman Cup. All of us had been fairly dejected. One factor we bonded on was the feedback part. Everyone was laughing as a result of many of the feedback had been very silly and fairly laughable. I believe we often have snigger over it.

    Shivani Naik: Can you each discuss your type of celebration?

    Chirag: This time round, after that final level I simply fell down on the court docket as a result of they’d form of come shut. We had been main 14-20 and at that time the Malaysians had a fortunate internet wire. From then, there have been 2-3 factors the place they served fairly nicely. At 18-20, we managed to get via that section and began a rally. Eventually after we acquired that time – it was about to hit the online, however fell on their aspect of the court docket – I simply fell down and had no clue what was happening.

    When Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty win, they’re identified to let unfastened on the court docket.

    Within seconds I then leapt on to Satwik – and thank God for his sturdy arms for with the ability to deal with my weight and taking me across the court docket. I’ve this factor I’ve began for the reason that Thomas Cup the place I take away my tshirt and throw it into the gang. It’s develop into an everyday factor that I do now.

    Satwik: The celebrations began from the Thomas Cup victory. From there it got here naturally. Chirag removes his shirt and I dance – it comes naturally for us.

    Sandeep Dwivedi: Satwik, after the Thomas Cup win, you guys had been dancing on the court docket. Where did that complete confidence of taking the music to the court docket come from?

    Satwik: As Chirag mentioned, it’s the assumption inside. So, we imagine in ourselves that we will do wonders. It’s not solely about us. It’s the folks surrounding us, the coaches, everybody. About the celebrations, personally, I’m extra of a ‘dance guy’. Once I hear drums being performed, my legs simply begin shifting (laughs).

    For the ultimate, I believe somebody from our staff organized for the drums. I couldn’t management myself. Chirag eliminated his t-shirt and we simply let go. We wished to try this Naatu Naatu dance however didn’t need to promote any film as such. Maybe quickly we’ll do it.

    Sandeep Dwivedi: The in-your-face perspective that you simply guys have on court docket is so completely different from gamers of earlier generations, I’m speaking about all Indian athletes. You guys don’t get intimidated or overawed by the gang. Do you see that change taking place throughout sports activities?

    Chirag: Yeah, positively. There has been a generational shift in the best way we method a match in addition to off-the-field. If you examine a Sunil Gavaskar to a Sachin Tendulkar and now a Virat Kohli, there’s positively been a change.

    When we used to go for the junior tournaments, our perspective was just like the one you most likely may need seen in 1983, as proven within the 83 film, the place they had been like let’s exit for a meal, waise bhi jaake haarna hai.

    In our junior days, a whole lot of our colleagues’ perspective was just like that as a result of they might be like, ‘oh shit, we are playing the Chinese or Korean or Japanese and we don’t actually stand an opportunity in opposition to them. So we’ll simply get pleasure from and roam across the metropolis’. But now, as I look again, there’s been a shift.

    For us, if we have a look at the Chinese or Korean or Japanese gamers, we don’t worry them and be like ‘oh shit, we are playing them.’ I believe they is perhaps pondering, ‘oh shit, we are playing Chirag and Satwik.’ So there’s been a shift in the best way we method a match and I hope children within the coming era don’t worry gamers from these international locations as a result of the efficiency Indian badminton has had, we’re a powerhouse as nicely. And we shouldn’t consider them being a lot stronger than we’re.

    Sriram Veera: How did the shift occur? Was there any second while you sat and talked about it?

    Chirag: As we stored on successful, we noticed the potential in us. I received’t say Satwik and I are the very best doubles pair India has produced. Probably we’re the very best by way of efficiency however there have been a whole lot of gamers who’ve been far more gifted than us. Like the best way, they managed the shuttle on the internet and backcourt. I believe there have been a whole lot of gamers who had been significantly better however I believe the distinction between them and us is we had the assumption in ourselves. But they didn’t. ‘Aaj China ke sath khel rahe hai, hmm let’s go on the market and see what occurs. Agar kuch nahi hua , then we’ll simply roam across the metropolis’. But they by no means believed that they will beat them and are significantly better. So the coaches now we have had through the years have instilled confidence in us. Even Tan coach and Mathias proper now maintain telling us that you’re meant for better issues, so by no means be happy with these outcomes. This is only a stepping stone and there are greater issues to be achieved.

  • From mid-court, Chiraj Shetty guidelines the world

    There have been no darkish shades or a black cape, simply an orange band knotted behind the top. But Chirag Shetty was totally in Matrix Neo mode on the day. Parked at midcourt – at a microsecond’s discover to pounce on the web – he was changing protection to offense together with his fast arms that moved at tremendous velocity, and packed off the hen to the opposite finish.

    While 85 p.c of their profitable factors within the Indonesia Open last may’ve come via their assault, the 15 per cent protection was not passive retrieving. Maintaining velocity and energy all through the 21-17, 21-18 win, the Indians countered when pushed to the midcourt by Aaron Chia and Son Wooi Yik.

    Chirag Shetty’s aggressive protection was particularly noteworthy in how his torso contorted at distinctive velocity and his arm moved like quick tentacles giving the Malaysians no respiratory area.

    𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 🏆🥇

    Proud of you boys 🫶

    📸: @badmintonphoto @himantabiswa | @sanjay091968 | @lakhaniarun1 #IndonesiaOpen2023#IndonesiaOpenSuper1000#BWFWorldTour #IndiaontheRise#Badminton pic.twitter.com/dbcWJstfVk

    — BAI Media (@BAI_Media) June 18, 2023

    Sometimes the tempo of his returns from the midcourt gave opponents no time to place themselves for assault. And although protection just isn’t thought-about the Indians’ forte, the slowish circumstances at present meant they might transition from protection to assault in cut up seconds, and earn factors on the counterattack in opposition to the world champion pair.

    Shetty is 187 cms, which suggests his head is a foot at the very least above the web which is 5 toes excessive. To deliver his head at eye degree with the web, Shetty has needed to crouch down in protection — bend on the knees. Not solely has he perfected the squat protection from the place he was taking the shuttles coming at excessive velocity onto him, however he’s additionally developed the pouncing motion which helps him get to the forecourt web in a matter of seconds.

    The fast motion to the web is spectacular, in a flash, partly from anticipation, and likewise as a result of his coordination with Satwik and court docket craft has improved tremendously.

    Peak health was additionally on show as a result of each didn’t decelerate. Usually when pushed into defensive positions, the Indians tended to decelerate prior to now, begin taking part in protected, one thing Aaron Chia would instantly capitalise on. Not at present.

    (1/3) Indonesia Open Super 1000 Champions!

    On this Fathers Day , I can’t assist however consider the person who helped form me into the particular person I’m at present – My Dad. This victory is devoted to him , my perpetually inspiration and the one that believed in me from the very starting. pic.twitter.com/d4YbcHuHFF

    — Chirag Shetty (@Shettychirag04) June 18, 2023

    The exceptionally excessive tempo in protection meant it was hardly seen as a legal responsibility by the opponents – one thing to choose up on. It was the identical tempo which by the way had helped the Indians beat the World No 1s 21-13, 21-13 within the quarterfinals.

    Satwik’s web recreation in the meantime improved ever since he stopped taking part in blended doubles – lifting cross, not straight et al.

    Assured in protection

    Eight losses in a row have meant there was loads of expertise to mine from to plot technique. “We’ve come close in beating them but we’ve held ourselves back, but this time we stuck to the plan and it paid rich dividends. Plan was to not hold ourselves back while receiving. We’ve always served well against them. Their service and receiving is good, serve spins a lot. So we had to be upfront. Also knew rallies will be short. Didn’t want that. If the shuttle was low we were lifting it instead of putting in in between because we knew our defense is strong now,” Shetty instructed the BWF.

    Rankireddy/Shetty 🇮🇳 go up in opposition to world champions Chia/Soh 🇲🇾.#BWFWorldTour #IndonesiaOpen2023 pic.twitter.com/BVZY2iomN3

    — BWF (@bwfmedia) June 18, 2023

    Defense had been their bane, reasonably their very own perception of their protection – one thing that didn’t waver on the day. “The previous 8 times we lost we always felt we could’ve defended well,” Rankireddy instructed the BWF. On Sunday they defended with conviction.

    It took some time to course appropriate. “Starting we were playing to their strength – they wanted fast, flat. But then we said in the break let’s play our style, let’s open up the game. Let them move, let them work to get the point. That was the strategy. First they played well to get to 6-3, then they gave away five easy points. Realised they are under pressure. In the second we decided we will defend, no problem our defense is good,” Satwik added.

  • Indian problem ends at Malaysia Open as Satwik, Chirag crash out in semi-finals vs Chinese doubles pair

    India’s high ranked doubles pairing Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have been knocked out of the Malaysia Open after dropping to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang. The duo misplaced within the semi-finals of the event.

    Kualalampur,UPDATED: Jan 14, 2023 22:33 IST

    File picture of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (proper) and Chirag Shetty (left). (Photo: BAI)

    By India Today Web Desk:
    India’s high ranked doubles pairing, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty fell to a defeat within the Malaysia Open 2023 on January 14, Saturday. The Indian doubles duo misplaced to China’s Liang Keng and Wang Chang in a three-set battle within the Super 1000 event.

    The Chinese pair who’re ranked seventeenth on this planet pulled off an unimaginable win towards the ranked fifth pairing. Satwik and Chirag have been pegged again from the beginning after dropping 21-16 within the first sport. They got here again within the second sport, recording a shocking 21-11 victory. However, they weren’t capable of take the momentum within the third sport and misplaced 15-21, succumbing to a defeat.

    The Indian duo have had a spirited 2022 and are with no shadow of a doubt top-of-the-line India doubles group ever produced. The match on Saturday was a detailed affair with fast-paced rallies. The Chinese duo did properly with their defensive, blocking an amazing quantity of smashes that resulted within the victory.

    The match was characerised by some gorgeous rallies within the last sport, however the Chinese duo pulled right into a lead from the beginning, one which Indians weren’t capable of overturn.

    The Indian duo will subsequent be seen in India Open, that’s scheduled to start out on 17 January.

    Edited By:

    Kingshuk Kusari

    Published On:

    Jan 14, 2023

  • Malaysia Open 2023: HS Prannoy retains India’s singles marketing campaign alive, reaches quarter-finals

    Malaysia Open 2023: World No. 8 HS Prannoy continued his golden run on the tour, reaching the quarter-finals of the season’s first Super 1000 match. Prannoy is the one Indian left within the singles marketing campaign.

    New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 12, 2023 14:02 IST

    HS Prannoy reached the quarter-finals of Malaysia Open 2023 (PTI Photo)

    By India Today Web Desk: India’s HS Prannoy continued his spectacular run from 2022 as he reached the quarter-final of the season-opening Malaysia Open Super 1000 match in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, January 12. Prannoy defeated Indonesia’s Chico Aura Dwi Wadoyo in three video games within the second spherical of the celebrated match.

    HS Prannoy wanted an hour and 4 minutes to defeat the World No. 19 21-9, 15-21, 21-16 and guide a spot within the quarter-final. Prannoy will face the winner of the second-round match between Malaysia’s Ng Tze Yong and Kodai Naraoka of Japan.

    Prannoy was in fantastic type in 2022, turning into the one Indian to achieve the BWF World Tour Finals. The World No. 8 opened his marketing campaign in 2023, defeating compatriot and seventh seed Lakshya Sen in a hard-fought first-round match. Prannoy wanted greater than an hour as the 2 Indian shuttlers went toe-to-toe earlier than the 30-year-old 24-22, 12-21, 21-18.

    Prannoy is the one Indian shuttler within the race in males’s singles as Kidambi Srikanth and PV Sindhu had been knocked out within the first-round. Sindhu, who returned to motion for the primary time since Commonwealth Games, misplaced a hard-fought three-game battle towards Carolina Marin.

    Earlier within the day, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand crashed out of the Super 1000 match after dropping to Bulgaria’s Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva within the ladies’s doubles pre-quarterfinals.

    The Indian pair, ranked sixteenth on the planet, suffered a 13-21, 21-15, 17-21 defeat by the hands of the Stoeva sisters in an hour and 9 minutes match on the Axiata Arena.

    Later within the day, India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will battle for a berth within the males’s doubles quarter-finals. They tackle Malaysia’s Shohibul Fikri and Bagas Maulana.

    Published On:

    Jan 12, 2023