For over a decade, India has found a way to return from the BWF World Championships with at least one medal.
From 2011 onwards, the country’s finest shuttlers across singles and doubles have ensured the tricolor finds its place on the podium. On Friday evening in Paris, that streak extended into its 14th year, courtesy of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The former world No. 1 men’s doubles pair produced one of their best performances on the big stage, defeating their long-standing nemesis Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia 21-12, 21-19 in the quarterfinals.
The win not only assured them of at least a bronze medal but also delivered a sense of poetic justice arriving at the very arena where their Olympic campaign had heartbreakingly ended just a year ago.
The storylines couldn’t have been scripted better. In August 2024, Satwik and Chirag’s Paris Olympics run ended in the quarterfinals against none other than Chia and Soh. The Malaysians, with their impregnable defence and tactical nous, had repeatedly stood in the way of the Indians’ ambitions. Fast forward 12 months, the same month, the same venue, the same rivals, and the same stage of the tournament. This time, though, the outcome was different. Satwik and Chirag came prepared, and they came with fire in their eyes.
The first game was played with ruthless efficiency. The Indians dominated from the start, with Satwik controlling the net and Chirag anchoring from the backcourt. Their aggression forced errors from the usually composed Malaysians, as they raced away to a commanding 21-12 win. The second game, however, was a test of nerves. From 17-11 ahead, the Indians suddenly found themselves level at 19-19 after missing a couple of easy chances and being dragged into long rallies by Chia’s stubborn defence. The 46-shot exchange at 19-15 showcased everything this rivalry embodies endurance, strategy, and sheer will.
Chirag even stumbled mid-rally but recovered brilliantly before Satwik sealed the point with a booming smash.
With the pressure mounting, it was Satwik who stepped up to serve out the match. One last error from the Malaysians handed India its assured medal, sparking roars of celebration from the Indian contingent. What sets Satwik and Chirag apart is the completeness of their partnership. Chirag’s calmness in constructing points from the back, coupled with Satwik’s explosive finishing at the net, gives them a dynamic edge. They have grown together, learned from each other, and turned weaknesses into strengths.
Their win over Chia and Soh was more than just a semifinal ticket. It was proof of evolution. The very pair that had once broken their Olympic dream was now dispatched in straight games at the highest stage of the sport. If “redemption” feels too heavy a word, then perhaps “vindication” is more fitting.
India’s World Championships Story Continues
From Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa’s breakthrough medal in 2011 to PV Sindhu’s golden run in 2019 and now the men’s doubles era led by Satwik and Chirag India’s consistency at the World Championships has become a hallmark. For Satwik and Chirag, this is their second Worlds medal, further cementing their legacy as the finest men’s doubles team India has ever produced. In a discipline where the country had long struggled to make a mark, these two have rewritten the narrative.
The bronze is assured, but this pair will hardly be satisfied with just making the semifinals. Every time they step onto the court, they demand more of themselves. With the world No. 1 ranking to their name and a growing reputation for delivering in big moments, Satwik and Chirag know they have the weapons to go all the way. Their immediate task is to recover quickly, reset their focus, and prepare for the semifinal. But no matter the outcome, their victory over Chia and Soh will remain a landmark a turning point that showcased their resilience, growth, and ability to rise above past scars.
This win wasn’t just about keeping a streak alive. It wasn’t just about another medal. It was about answering doubts, about exorcising ghosts, about proving to themselves as much as to the world that they could rise when it mattered most. In Paris, where their Olympic dream had died a year ago, Satwik and Chirag found new life. And in doing so, they gave Indian badminton yet another moment to cherish.
