India’s star men’s doubles badminton duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, face a crucial test at the Paris Olympics after their second Group C match against Germany’s Marvin Seidel and Mark Lamsfuss was cancelled. The cancellation was due to Mark Lamsfuss withdrawing from the tournament because of a knee injury, as confirmed by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
In their first match, Satwiksairaj and Chirag, popularly called “Sat-Chi,” secured a solid 21-17, 21-14 victory over France’s Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar. Despite strong resistance from the home pair, the Indians comfortably took the match in 46 minutes.
Now, all eyes are on their must-win third match against Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto, a formidable duo currently ranked seventh in the world. This match is particularly significant as it will determine Sat-Chi’s progress to the quarterfinals.
Head-to-Head Rivalry
The two teams share a competitive history, having clashed five times. Sat-Chi holds a slight edge with three wins, including their most recent victory over the Indonesian pair in the final of the Korean Open 2023.
Fajar and Muhammad, formerly ranked world number one, bring immense pedigree with world championship bronze medals in 2019 and 2022, and a crucial role in Indonesia’s victorious 2020 Thomas Cup team.
Sat-Chi’s Stellar Year
Satwiksairaj and Chirag have had an impressive 2024 season so far:
- Titles: French Open and Thailand Open
- Finalists: Malaysian Open and India Open
- Thomas Cup: Played as defending champions, bowing out to eventual winners China in the quarterfinals.
Olympic Credentials
The Indian duo boasts a decorated career:
- Former world number one ranking in men’s doubles
- 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalists
- Bronze medalists at the 2022 World Championships
- Asian Games gold medalists in Hangzhou
- Silver medalists in mixed team events at the Commonwealth and Asian Games
As one of India’s strongest medal hopes at the Paris Olympics, the duo aims to showcase their winning momentum and deliver in the high-stakes clash. Fans are optimistic about their chances to add another historic achievement to their already illustrious resume.
TNL News Network
