The star Indian men’s doubles badminton duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, are set to continue their strong performance at the Paris Olympics. Despite the cancellation of their second Group C match against Germany’s Marvin Seidel and Mark Lamsfuss due to Lamsfuss’s knee injury, their third game has become crucial. According to the Badminton World Federation (BWF), Lamsfuss’s injury has led to the withdrawal of the German pair from the competition, and the results of all Group C matches involving them are now nullified. This cancellation emphasizes the importance of Satwiksairaj and Chirag’s next match for their advancement to the quarterfinals.
The Indian pair, popularly known as ‘Sat-Chi’, began their Paris Olympics journey with a victory over France’s Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar, winning 21-17, 21-14. The match was concluded in 46 minutes, with the French duo putting up a spirited fight, backed by their home crowd, but ultimately falling to the superior play of Satwiksairaj and Chirag. Their anticipated match against the world number 31 pair, Marvin Seidel and Mark Lamsfuss, was unfortunately cancelled due to Lamsfuss’s injury, redirecting their focus to their next opponents.
Satwiksairaj and Chirag will face the Indonesian pair of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto on Tuesday, which will be a must-win match for the Indian duo. The Indonesian pair, formerly ranked number one and currently ranked seventh, have an impressive track record, including world championship bronze medals in 2019 and 2022, and being part of the 2020 Thomas Cup-winning team. The head-to-head record between the Indian and Indonesian pairs stands at three wins to two in favor of the Indian duo, with Sat-Chi winning their most recent encounter at the Korean Open 2023 final.
The Indian pair has had a remarkable year, securing two Badminton World Federation (BWF) Tour titles – the French Open in March 2024 and the Thailand Open in May 2024. They also finished as runners-up in the Malaysian Open and India Open. Additionally, they were part of the Indian team in the Thomas Cup 2024, though they could not defend their title, losing to eventual champions China in the quarterfinals.
With a peak world ranking of number one in men’s doubles, multiple BWF Tour titles, a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships, and gold medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, Satwiksairaj and Chirag have an impressive collection of accolades. Their success in these major tournaments, along with their consistent performance, underscores their status as leading contenders for an Olympic medal in Paris.
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