Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have made history by becoming the first Indian pair to win a doubles gold at the Asian Championships held in 2023. The duo broke a 58-year-old drought and achieved a magnificent victory in the continental championship by defeating the Malaysian combination of Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi 16-21, 21-17, 21-19 in a nail-biting final.
Satwik and Chirag showed tremendous grit as they never gave up after losing the first game and being 7-13 and 11-15 down in the second and third game to secure the first gold for India in doubles. “We kept our nerves, we know how to play these situations. So, we were waiting for the good rhythm and then take our chances. We were calmer in the second and third games. It felt like playing in Hyderabad. The crowd was amazing,” said Satwik during the press-conference.
The victory has been a great morale booster for the pair as they now head into the Olympic qualification period. “Personally for me, it will take a lot of time to believe that we are the Asian champions. I still don’t believe we are Thomas Cup champions. It’s our dream to win for India and make the flag fly high. Good boost for us as we go into the Olympic qualification period,” said Satwik.
Dinesh Khanna is the only Indian to claim the gold medal in the Asia Championships, having achieved the feat when he beat Thailand’s Sangob Rattanusorn in the men’s singles final in 1965 in Lucknow. India’s previous best performance in men’s doubles at the Asia Championships was a bronze-medal finish by Dipu Ghosh and Raman Ghosh in 1971.
Besides the Asian Championships title, Satwik and Chirag also won the 2022 Commonwealth Games and five career titles on the BWF World Tour. This victory has further cemented their position as the best shuttlers for India on display this season.
“After 13-8 we tried to play little smarter. Service was one thing that worked really well for us, it took them by surprise. We were also a lot calmer while defending as well,” said Chirag.
Overall, the victory has been a momentous occasion for Indian badminton, and it is hoped that this win will inspire more young talent to take up the sport and strive for excellence on the world stage.