Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy Claim World No. 1 Spot in Badminton Rankings
Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy have etched their names in history as they become the first Indian men’s doubles badminton pair to reach the world No. 1 ranking in the latest BWF World Rankings. This remarkable achievement adds them to the illustrious list of Indian badminton legends who have previously held the top spot in the Badminton World Federation World Rankings.
Sat-Chi’s Rise to the Summit
Popularly known as “Sat-Chi,” Satwik and Chirag’s ascent to the world No. 1 ranking is the result of their exceptional performances on the badminton court. They recently clinched a historic gold medal in the Asian Games badminton men’s doubles event held in Hangzhou, where they triumphed over Kim Wonho and Choi Solgyu from the Republic of Korea with a score of 21-18, 21-16 in the final.
Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy’s journey to the top ranking began with their victory at the 2023 Swiss Open in March. Their winning streak continued as they secured a gold medal at the Asian Championships in Dubai in April. In June, they made history by winning their first BWF World Super 1000 title at the 2023 Indonesia Open, where they defeated the reigning world champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia in the final, marking a significant milestone for Indian men’s doubles badminton.
Their remarkable performances at the 2023 Korean Open and the Asian Games 2023 solidified their claim to the world No. 1 ranking. The duo’s consistent success throughout the year has propelled them to the pinnacle of men’s doubles badminton.
Shuffling the Women’s Singles Rankings
In the women’s singles category, PV Sindhu, despite missing out on a medal at the Asian Games 2023, has climbed two positions and now holds the 13th rank. On the other hand, former world No. 1 Saina Nehwal, the London 2012 Olympics bronze medallist, maintains her world No. 54 ranking.
Shuffling the men’s singles rankings, HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen each dropped one position, securing the 8th and 15th ranks, respectively. Kidambi Srikanth, on the other hand, has risen one spot and currently holds the 20th position in the same category.
India’s top-ranked women’s doubles pair, Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, have climbed one position and now occupy the 16th position in the world rankings. In mixed doubles, the duo of Rohan Kapoor and Sikki Reddy has retained their world No. 38 ranking, making them India’s top pair in this category.
