India’s premier men’s doubles badminton pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, credit their recent success to game evolution and service variations developed over the past 16 months.The former world number one duo has shown exceptional performance after recovering from injuries and illness that kept them away from the sport. They secured a bronze medal at the World Championships in Paris and reached finals in both Hong Kong Super 500 and China Masters Super 750 tournaments.The nine-time BWF World Tour winners, currently ranked seventh globally, are aiming for their tenth title. They attribute their recent success to a newly adopted side-by-side strategy.“We have tried playing side-by-side more often, especially after service to control the pushes,” Chirag, who relied more on the front-and-back strategy so far, told PTI.
India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty settle for silver (ANI Photo)
“(Malaysian) coach Tan Kim Her told us that many pairs are doing it, and we too felt it (side-by-side strategy) worked well. Once a guy serves, the other splits up at the front court to catch the pushes. It has really worked for us in the last two to three tournaments,” added Chirag.The pair has enhanced their service variations, with Chirag developing an effective flat serve as his primary weapon. “In the last couple of tournaments, we’ve served a lot better than in the past year. The game is too fast to rely on one style. You need multiple ways to score points, and that’s what we are trying to develop,” he said.The duo faced significant challenges in the past 16 months, with Satwik dealing with a shoulder injury and Chirag experiencing fitness issues. Their ranking dropped to 27th position during this period.“Everybody expects results, but there are plenty of factors not in your hands. To return from 27th to the top-8 within a few months after injuries is commendable. Despite setbacks, we’ve played countless semifinals and two finals, which I think is really commendable.”Their second World Championships bronze medal in Paris provided a significant boost to their confidence.“We had tough draws and opponents we hadn’t fared well against in the past. Winning those matches gave us the confidence to believe again. That confidence helped us in the back-to-back finals (in Hong Kong and China Masters in Shenzhen) that followed, even though we couldn’t always cross the line,” said Chirag.“Compared to the top pairs, we lag in that area. At crucial moments, we tend to attack rather than defend, unlike the Koreans who stay calm and solid. If we can defend strongly under pressure, it will take us much ahead. We start to open in rallies, but when it heats up, we tend to go attacking, so improving defense under pressure is the key,” said Satwik.Malaysian coach Tan Kim Her continues to guide their development, having worked with them since their early career stages.“The camaraderie is special,” Satwik added. “He used to joke that he’ll only post our pictures once we win medals. After the Worlds, he said, ‘Finally, I can pose with you guys’. Now he tells us, ‘once you start, there’s no stopping’. We trust him completely, and that bond has always helped us push ourselves further.”The players are currently taking a brief break from their rigorous schedule.“Right now, we are switching off our phones and spending time at home,” Satwik said. “I am here to celebrate Dussehra with friends, and Chirag is also enjoying family time. Being back home with friends and family really helps to relax the mind before getting back to Hyderabad for practice.”With upcoming tournaments in France and Denmark, they remain focused on their goals.“We may not have crossed the line in the finals yet, but the confidence from the Worlds has put us on track. We just need to stick to our strategies, keep evolving, and make sure we are ready for the next tournaments,” added Chirag.
