Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty assured India of a historic medal at the badminton World Championships in Paris on August 29. The Indian duo defeated their long-time rivals Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia in straight games to secure a place in the semifinals and become the first Indian pair ever to secure a medal.
The men’s doubles pair, World No. 9, produced a brilliant performance marked by fearless attacking play at the Adidas Arena in Paris, outclassing the second-seeded Malaysians in straight games, 21-12, 21-19. The win was special, not only for the assured medal but also because it avenged a heartbreaking quarterfinal loss at the 2024 Paris Olympics against the same opponents, at the very same venue.
Satwik and Chirag started strong, taking an early lead by dictating the pace and maintaining relentless pressure with sharp rallies and pinpoint smashes. Despite a late comeback by the Malaysians in the second game, the Indians stayed composed during crucial moments, sealing the match in 43 minutes.
Their victory ended a head-to-head losing streak (3-11 before this clash) and marked their second medal at the prestigious event, having previously won bronze in 2022. India has now won at least one medal at every World Championships since 2011, and this remarkable result ensures the medal run continues. Satwik and Chirag’s achievement comes as other prominent Indian shuttlers, including PV Sindhu, exited in the quarterfinals.
