Satwik-Chirag break past Chia-Soh to secure World Championships medal
PARIS: Indian badminton duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty stormed into the men’s doubles semifinals of the World Championships in Paris, ensuring India another podium finish at the prestigious event.
The world No. 3 pair delivered a clinical performance to oust Malaysia’s two-time Olympic medallists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 21-12, 21-19 in just 43 minutes on Friday night. The victory was particularly sweet as it came against their long-standing nemesis, who had denied them an Olympic medal in Paris last year and defeated them twice earlier this season in Singapore and China.
With the win, Satwik and Chirag guaranteed themselves a second World Championships medal, following their bronze in 2022. Their success also continues India’s remarkable run of podium finishes at every edition since Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa’s historic bronze in 2011.
Earlier in the day, PV Sindhu’s quarterfinal loss ended India’s hopes in women’s singles, adding extra pressure on the men’s doubles stars. Rising to the occasion, Satwik and Chirag responded with poise and power, avenging past defeats and carrying Indian hopes into the last four.
