Satwik and Chirag: Trailblazing Indian Doubles Pair in Badminton, World No. 1

11 Oct, (VNI) Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy have etched their names in the annals of Indian men's doubles badminton, ascending to the pinnacle of the latest BWF World Rankings. Affectionately dubbed "Sat-Chi," this dynamic pair's historic achievement was underscored by their resounding victory at the Asian Games men’s doubles event in Hangzhou, where they bested Kim Wonho-Choi Solgyu of the Republic of Korea in a compelling final. The year 2023 has proven to be a watershed for Shetty and Rankireddy. Commencing with a triumph at the Swiss Open in March, they followed suit with a gold medal at the Asian Championships in Dubai in April. The subsequent month saw them clinch their inaugural BWF World Super 1000 title at the 2023 Indonesia Open, a watershed moment in Indian badminton history. Notably, their final showdown against the reigning world champions, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia, marked a significant milestone. Their winning streak continued with notable victories at the 2023 Korean Open and the Asian Games 2023, culminating in their ascendancy to the topmost echelons of the rankings. On the women's singles front, PV Sindhu exhibited tenacity and skill, making a commendable ascent of two positions, currently occupying the 13th rank. Meanwhile, Saina Nehwal, the former world No. 1 and Olympic bronze medallist, maintains her standing at world No. 54. In men's singles, HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen witnessed a marginal descent, securing the 8th and 15th positions, respectively. In contrast, Kidambi Srikanth's trajectory has been marked by an upward shift, solidifying his position at the 20th rank. Within the domain of women’s doubles, the leading Indian pair, comprising Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, exhibited commendable progress, now positioned at 16th in the global rankings. In the sphere of mixed doubles, the accomplished duo of Rohan Kapoor and Sikki Reddy retained their world No. 38 standing, reaffirming their status as India’s foremost pair in this discipline.