Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty create history, clinch gold at Badminton Asia Championships 2023
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have created history by becoming the first doubles pair to win a gold medal at the Badminton Asia Championships.
The World No. 6 pair defeated the 8th-ranked pairing of One Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi of Malaysia in a stunning three-game battle at Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Indoor Hall, Al Nasr Club.
Satwik-Chirag start slow
The Indian duo conceded the opening game but they fought back from 7-13 in the second game to complete a stunning 16-21, 21-17, 21-19 in an hour and 7 minutes.
Satwik and Chirag looked down and out after losing the opening game and trailing 6-13 in the second game.
One Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi were on the mark from the word go as they did not give any time for the Indian pair to settle into rhythm. Strangely, Satwik and Chirag were not at their best at the nets, making quite a few unforced errors.
However, with the backing of a vocal crowd in Dubai, Satwik and Chirag came up with a stunning fightback to take the second game 21-17, winning 15 of the next 19 points in the game. Satwik and Chirag trailed 11-15 in the third game as well but they found the extra gear, thanks to the support from the crowd and raced to the finish line. One and Teo saved a match point but it was not enough for the Malaysians to cause an upset.
Historic win for India
Satwik and Chirag won India its only second gold medal at the Badminton Asia Championships after Dinesh Khanna’s men’s singles gold medal in 1965.
Badminton Association of India president Himanta Biswa Sarma announced Rs 20 lakh as prize money for the historic gold medalists.
Satwik and Chirag rushed to the doubles coach Mathias Boe, who kept their morale up throughout the match with his inputs from the sidelines.
It was the first big title win for Satwik and Chirag in 2023 after a stunning last year where the top-ranked Indian pair won the Commonwealth Games gold and was part of the historic Thomas Cup-winning team.
The Indian duo displayed exceptional skills and temperament in the crucial moments of the game. With this victory, they have proven their mettle on the international stage and have given India a reason to celebrate.
The crowd in Dubai played a significant role in lifting their spirits, and they will be remembered for their stunning comeback in the final.
