Satwik and Chirag secure Asia Championships title

The 2022 World Championships bronze medallists scripted a sensational comeback after an opening game

By Newsmeter Network  Published on  1 May 2023 6:36 AM GMT
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty

Dubai: Star doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty on Sunday broke a 58-year-old drought, becoming the first Indians after Dinesh Khanna to be crowned champions at the Asia badminton Championships here.

The 2022 World Championships bronze medallists scripted a sensational comeback after an opening game reversal to edge past the Malaysian combination of Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi 16-21, 21-17, 21-19 in a nail-biting final to accomplish a magnificent victory in the continental championship.

Satwik, 22, from Amalapuram in Andhra Pradesh, and Mumbai-born Chirag, 25, were relentless in their attack, sending down the shuttle at stiff angles and at a good speed, while Ong and Teo were rock solid in their defence.

Khanna is the only Indian to claim the gold medal, 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.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy was still in disbelief after he and his partner Chirag Shetty created history. "Personally for me, it will take a lot of time to believe that we are the Asian champions," Satwik said during the press conference.

"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." Khanna is the only Indian to claim the gold medal, having achieved the feat when he beat Thailand's Sangob Rattanusorn in the men's singles final in 1965 in Lucknow.

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 games to secure the first gold for India in doubles.

"I think today we didnā€™t play, the crowd played with us. It was a bad start in the first half of the second game, but we didnā€™t give up," he said.

"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." It was the second title of the season for Satwik and Chirag, who continued to remain the best shuttlers for the country on display this season.

Chirag said: "After 13-8 we tried to play a 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." Besides the Asian Championships title, Satwik and Chirag also won the 2022 Commonwealth Games and five career titles on the BWF World Tour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the star men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty to be crowned champions at the Asia Badminton Championships here.

"Proud of @satwiksairaj and @Shettychirag04 for scripting history by becoming the first Indian Men's Doubles pair to win the Badminton Asia Championships Title," Modi said in a tweet.


"Congratulations to them and wishing them the very best for their future endeavours," he said.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy congratulated Satwik.

"My congratulations to satwiksairaj and Chirag on winning the Badminton Asia Championships 2023. Iā€™m incredibly proud of Satwik, who hails from our beautiful AndhraPradesh. The Telugu Flag continues to fly higher," he Tweeted.


Inputs from PTI

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