Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty on Badminton Recognition
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, the top men’s doubles pair from India, brought up something important. They felt the lack of recognition for the country’s history, especially the Thomas Cup wins. It wasn't just about medals, you know? It was about getting people to actually talk about badminton, about how visible it even is in India.
They were the world No. 4 duo, reigning Asian Games champions too. They were on the team that recently snagged a bronze at the Thomas Cup in Denmark.
They had been pretty unhappy earlier. Disappointed by the quiet reaction to India’s big title back in 2022. And then the bronze medal this year. There was a real sense of disappointment there.
“I think the sport really needed a conversation,” Chirag said to the BWF, while they were in Bangkok for the Thailand Open Super 500 quarterfinals.
He felt that the reception they got back in 2022 was just muted. They deserved a much bigger celebration. Nobody expected India to win a Thomas Cup gold, after all.
“That’s why I said it,” Satwik explained. “But it actually blew up more than we thought. There were critics, sure, but there were also a lot of positive reactions. That’s a good sign. At least the conversation started. Hopefully, things get bigger over the next few years.”
Satwik brought up the bigger issue. “People just aren’t watching badminton. That’s what we felt.”
It’s a tough spot. You wear the India jerseys, but attention goes elsewhere. IPL, other stuff happening around. Even winning a bronze medal is hard enough, because the level in team events is just insanely high.
They touched on the other side too. Nobody expected Indonesia or Korea to be knocked out. They thought they were close to beating China. If they had won that doubles match, the tie could have gone 3-2 in their favor.
There were definitely negatives, but Satwik felt almost ninety percent of the reactions were positive. That felt like something.
Satwik stressed that their worry wasn't just about parties or celebrations. It was about how badminton just struggles for mainstream attention, despite all these major wins.
Chirag shifted the focus to the team aspect. He said team events are genuinely special. The emotional highs and the pressure involved really make them stand out, especially since badminton is mostly an individual sport.
“I think team events are special for professional players,” he noted. “Because badminton is largely individual, you don’t get many chances to play as a team. But when you do, everyone loves it.”
He added that if you ask players from anywhere, they all feel the same way. The excitement, the tension, the pressure—that’s what makes team events exciting. It’s one of the best parts of the game.
Looking ahead, Chirag mentioned the bigger stage. The Asian Games is massive. Along with the World Championships, it’s a huge event. They really want to perform well there. They’re looking forward to the upcoming Games.
Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board
Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.
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