Satwiksairaj and Chirag Shetty Gear Up for India Open Amid High Expectations

As the 2026 India Open approaches, champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty reflect on their journey, the pressures of competition, and their excitement to play in front of a home crowd. With a history of record-breaking achievements and a reunion with their coach Tan Kim Her, the duo aims to overcome recent challenges and secure more titles. Their insights into the evolving landscape of badminton and the importance of resilience provide a glimpse into their preparations for the upcoming tournament. Discover how they plan to tackle the competition and their aspirations for the future.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 13, 2026, 01:56 IST

Anticipation Builds for the India Open

By Sahil Kohli

New Delhi [India] - January 13: The champions of the 2022 India Open, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, shared their thoughts on managing the heightened expectations that have accompanied their rise in the badminton world since the early 2020s. This period has seen them achieve numerous record-breaking titles and medals, alongside reuniting with their coach Tan Kim Her, who played a pivotal role in their development during their teenage years.

Known as 'Sat-Chi', the world’s third-ranked duo spoke to a media outlet ahead of the upcoming 2026 India Open, set to take place at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi starting Tuesday. This event also serves as a test for the BWF World Championships, which will be hosted at the same venue later this year.

In their latest outing at the Malaysia Open, Satwik and Chirag faced an early exit in the quarterfinals. Despite having secured a bronze medal at the BWF World Championships, they are eager for a title on the BWF World Tour, with their last victory at the Thailand Open in May 2024. They are considered strong contenders for a medal at the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024, although they were eliminated in the quarterfinals previously.

Since the Paris Olympics, their notable achievements include winning bronze and silver medals at the BWF World Championships and the Hong Kong Open, respectively. However, the duo has struggled with consistency, which had previously propelled them to the top of the world rankings. Their victory at the India Open in January 2022 marked the beginning of a successful streak, culminating in seven BWF World Tour titles by May 2024, along with several prestigious Asian and world-level accolades.

Discussing the pressure of expectations, Satwiksairaj emphasized that they try not to dwell on external pressures. He noted that the competitive landscape in badminton has intensified, making it challenging to face players ranked within the top 25-30, compared to earlier days when only the top 10 dominated.

“We don’t focus too much on those expectations. The competition has become incredibly fierce in recent years, with many young players emerging and performing at high levels. Previously, it was tough to compete against the top 10, but now even the top 25 or 30 can pose a challenge,” he explained.

He acknowledged that last year, they often played through minor injuries, which affected their performance. “We weren’t always at our best, but when we were, we performed exceptionally well, winning a bronze at the World Championship and a silver in China and Hong Kong. The second half of 2025 was special, and we hope to kick off 2026 on a strong note,” he added.

Satwiksairaj expressed excitement about competing in front of a home crowd this year, with both the India Open and World Championships taking place in India. “It’s always special to play at home, and last year’s event was packed. I’ve been looking forward to this opportunity again, and having two major events here is thrilling,” he said.

He encouraged young aspiring players to attend and watch their matches, as witnessing top-level play can significantly enhance their learning experience.

The duo is thrilled to have Tan Kim Her back as their coach. Tan originally paired them in 2016 when they were ranked between 400-500. After his departure in 2019, they climbed to the top 15, and now, with Tan’s return, they are among the top three in the world.

“Working with Tan Kim Her has always been beneficial. He paired us when we were teenagers, and by the time he left, we were in the top 15. Now, we’ve won medals and reached number three in the world. It’s a pleasure to work with him again, and we look forward to more titles,” Chirag remarked.

Chirag reminisced about watching the World Championship in India back in 2009 and expressed his desire to upgrade their medal tally, hoping for a better color than bronze. “I remember watching the 2009 World Championship as a teenager. Now, I’m excited to compete in it. I hope we can add a higher medal to our collection,” he concluded.