New Delhi: Indian shuttlers Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy have described their men’s doubles bronze at the World Badminton Championships in Paris as a moment of redemption after the heartbreak of last year’s Olympics. The world No. 9 duo defeated Malaysia’s two-time Olympic medallists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in the quarterfinals to secure their second World Championships medal, before falling to China’s 11th seeds Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi in the semifinals.
“It feels like redemption,” Chirag told PTI. “That win against Aaron was very special. More than the medal, it showed that if we play tactically right, we can beat anyone. Losing to the same pair at the Olympics in the same arena made this victory even more meaningful.”
The bronze helps the pair join Saina Nehwal (2) and PV Sindhu (5) as the only Indians to win multiple medals at the World Championships. Chirag acknowledged the challenges they faced over the past year, both on and off the court. “This win gives us hope and confirms we are on the right track. The hardships we’ve gone through make it worthwhile,” he said.
In the semifinal match, the Indian pair squandered an 11-6 lead in the first game but bounced back to take the second. However, in the deciding game, they quickly fell behind 1-9 and couldn’t recover. Chirag reflected on the loss: “We tried to be quick at the net, but their flick serves kept us guessing. Looking back, we could have waited for the second or third shot instead of pressing from the first.”
The medal also continued India’s podium streak at the World Championships since 2011. Chirag praised other Indian players, including HS Prannoy, who narrowly lost to the world No. 2, calling it a “good campaign for India.”
Looking ahead, Chirag said the focus will be on regaining peak fitness and reaching tournament finals. “Our short-term goal is to be at our physical best. Once fit, we aim to reach finals and perform well at the season-ending World Tour Finals,” he said.
The duo has faced a difficult period marked by injuries and personal loss. Satwik struggled with back and elbow injuries, then lost his father in February and was sidelined again by chickenpox. Chirag also battled a recurring back injury. “It’s been a tough journey with many ups and downs. We’re going slow and steady, but we’re on the right track and hope to break barriers soon,” he added.
