Badminton Worlds: We can beat any pair on our day, says Satwik
Rankireddy and Shetty Ready for Home Worlds Challenge
Bharatmorningnews.com – Indian badminton fans once questioned whether a domestic duo could ever match the intensity and technical brilliance displayed in elite men's doubles. That doubt has vanished with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, whose dynamic approach has transformed the global landscape.
These two have become synonymous with Indian badminton's golden era. Their trophy cabinet includes a Thomas Cup victory, Asian Games championship gold, Asian Championships triumph, and two World Championships bronze medals. Now, they face another significant test at the BWF World Championships launching Monday at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
Season of Ups and Downs
The current campaign has brought mixed emotions for the home crowd favorites. May brought celebration when they captured the Singapore Open, ending a lengthy two-year drought for a BWF World Tour championship. However, fortune turned the following week at the Indonesia Open when Satwik's shoulder problem returned, compelling an early exit.
Recovery didn't last long. At the Japan Open held June 2-7, the same shoulder issue resurfaced. Frustration mounted as they lost the opening game 19-21 against Denmark's Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard. Under Malaysian coach Tan Kim Her's guidance, the pair made the strategic decision to prioritize rehabilitation over further competition.
Home Advantage Brings New Energy
Ranked fifth globally and recognized as one of the world's premier attacking duos, they carry substantial expectations from local supporters. Having received a first-round bye, they now await their second-round assignment.
"We are very excited. It's a different feeling to be playing the World Championships at home in front of your fans. We took a long break, but we are not focusing too much ahead. We just want to take one match at a time," Satwik shared with HT.
His primary concern remains physical readiness. The shoulder must withstand the demands of aggressive smashing and rapid movement.
"I had time with the rehab. But tournaments and practice are much different. So, we have to see how it goes in the tournament. Because in practice, you don't have so much pressure. In the tournament, you need to see how it goes."
Confidence from Recent Success
The Singapore Open victory provided crucial momentum before injury intervened. Satwik reflected on that achievement and what it revealed about their capabilities.
"Winning a major title after a gap we got the confidence back. We played some disciplined game and stuck to the game plan throughout, be it against the Koreans or the Indonesians. Even though we lost the first game (in the final), we came back to win the second and third. So, I felt like even though we weren't 100% there yet, still we won the tournament beating all the world's top pairs."
Defeating Korea's Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae in the semi-final, followed by Malaysia's Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri in the championship match, bolstered their self-assurance. The Korean duo enters as top seeds while the Malaysian pair holds the second seed position.
Additionally, this year's Thomas Cup bronze medal contribution adds further motivation to their Worlds campaign.
"That's a good motivation for us. We know all the time that if we are fit enough to play, we can beat anyone on the given day. So, our main focus is to get back on track, get that momentum and keep going. So, we play a little bit freer. It's challenging for us, but I think we are well prepared for that challenge."
Satwik acknowledged that circumstances beyond their control affected their Indonesia Open performance.
"I felt in the Indonesia Open, if we would have been in good shape, we would have played one more final. We had the confidence, the body language and the attitude, but a few things are not in our hands."
Managing Physical Demands
At 26 years old, Satwik's powerful playing style makes shoulder injuries a recurring concern during consecutive tournament appearances. However, careful workload management under coaching guidance has helped mitigate these issues.
"Sometimes when I'm playing two tournaments in a row... I think it's difficult for my shoulder to play four tournaments back-to-back in less than one-and-a-half months. So, somewhere we need to manage that," he explained.
While such scheduling challenges might frustrate any athlete, the partnership between Satwik and Chirag has grown stronger through adversity. They've learned to navigate these obstacles together while maintaining optimism about their future prospects.
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