NEW DELHI: Indian men's doubles badminton duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian pair to reach the number one spot in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Rankings.
This achievement follows their gold medal win at the recently concluded Asian Games in Hangzhou, where they defeated South Korea's Choi Sol-Gyu and Kim Won-ho in the final.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, known as 'Sat-Chi' to fans, have been on an impressive run since 2022. They have won five BWF World Tour titles, including the Indian Open, French Open, Swiss Open, Indonesia Open, and Korea Open. Notably, their victory at the Indonesia Open marked India's first-ever BWF Super 1000 World Tour title in men's doubles.
In addition to their individual achievements, the duo played a significant role in India's historic victory in the Thomas Cup, the top men's team championship. India secured the trophy for the first time by defeating Indonesia in the final.
Their success extends to the Commonwealth Games, where they clinched gold in the men's doubles category by beating the local pair of Ben Lane and Sean Vardy. They also secured a bronze medal at the World Championships in Dubai, becoming India's first-ever men's doubles medalists at the event.
Furthermore, 'Sat-Chi' captured the Asian Championships gold by defeating Malaysia's Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi in a thrilling final.
This achievement not only solidifies their position as one of India's top badminton pairs but also makes them the fourth Indians to achieve the coveted top ranking in the BWF Rankings, joining legendary players like Prakash Padukone, Saina Nehwal, and Kidambi Srikanth. The duo's remarkable journey continues to inspire and elevate India's status in the world of badminton.
(With ANI inputs)
