In a city that once symbolised heartbreak, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy scripted a story of redemption. The Indian men’s doubles pair ended the nation’s medal drought at the 2024 World Badminton Championships in Paris, returning home with a bronze medal. It was also their second podium finish at the prestigious event.
The world No. 9 pair stunned two-time Olympic medallists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia in straight games in the quarterfinal, avenging a painful Olympic loss on the very same court. Though their campaign ended with a semifinal loss to China’s Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi, the win over Malaysia was the emotional highlight.
“That win against Aaron is very special. More than the medal, just knowing that if we play the right game, we can beat anyone,” Chirag said.
“It’s redemption for the Olympics, where we lost to them on the same court. So yeah, it feels really special.”
Their achievement places them in elite company, alongside Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu, as the only Indians to win multiple medals at the World Championships.
The journey to the podium has been far from smooth. Satwik grappled with injuries, illness, and personal loss, while Chirag dealt with a recurring back issue. Despite these hurdles, the duo held firm, finding form and belief when it mattered most.
“It makes it even more special because we’ve not had the best of years, both on and off the court. This win surely gives us hope and the belief that the hardships we’ve gone through were worthwhile,” Chirag reflected.
In the semifinal, India led 11-6 in the first game and won the second, but were overwhelmed in the decider, trailing 1-9 before eventually conceding. Chirag was candid in his assessment.
“The momentum shifted in the deciding game. They mixed it up with flick serves and kept us guessing. Maybe we should’ve been more patient instead of pressing for the kill from the first shot. But credit to them, they served really well.”
This bronze continues India’s World Championship medal streak that dates back to 2011, reinforcing its growing status in global badminton. H.S. Prannoy narrowly missed out on another medal after pushing world No. 2 to the edge, while two more Indian quarterfinalists rounded off a strong campaign.
Looking ahead, fitness remains the immediate goal.
“Our short-term goal is to be at our physical best,” said Chirag. “Then to reach a final and hopefully win. We aim to play the World Tour Finals this year and go as deep as possible.”
After a year marked by setbacks, the bronze medal is a powerful signal that the SatChi duo is steadily returning to their best.
