As the Olympics 2024 is all set to start the focus will be on Indian shuttlers, especially Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The dynamic duo has been making great strides in the world of badminton, showing their prowess consistently in the 750 and 1000 events and even rising to the World No.1 spot. Satwik-Chirag has reached three finals this year and were able to win the French Open, making them heavy medal contenders for India in badminton this year at the Olympics.
Under the guidance of Denmark’s Mathias Boe, the duo have been consistently improving their game and will be aiming to put behind the disappointment of Tokyo 2020 behind them. The duo crashed out in Tokyo in the group stages. But since then, the duo have gone from strength to strength. They went on to help India win a maiden Thomas Cup title, before clinching the gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. They clinched a top podium finish for India in the Asian Games 2023 and subsequently went to the top of the rankings last year.
This would also lead to both men being awarded the Khel Ratna award for their performances. Now ranked No.3 in the world, the duo enter as favourites for the gold medal.
Satwik-Chirag’s journey in Paris Olympics 2024
Satwik-Chirag has been drawn into Group C in the men’s doubles at the Paris Olympics 2024. They will be facing Indonesian pair of Fajan Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto, who they have quite a history. They have faced each other five times with Satwik-Chirag leading the head-to-head record 3-2. They faced each other last time in the Korea Open 2023 where the Indian duo won.
Apart from Alfian and Ardianto, World No.31 pairing of Mark Lascus and Marvin Seidel of Germany and World No.43 Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar of France will give the Indian stars some tough competition in the group.
Mathias Boe on Satwik-Chirag
Coach Boe feels that if Satwik-Chirag can come in at their 100 percent then they would be very difficult to beat.
“If we can come in at our 100% when we play like the way we do, we are very difficult to beat. If everyone hits their 100 percent, I feel we are the best in the world. That’s the advantage we have, of being us, that we can actually trust and have the confidence that we are the best pair,” said Boe.
India will surely be hoping that the duo will be at their 100 percent and bring home the gold and continue their march in the world of badminton. The badminton event will be held from July 27 to August 5 in Paris.
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