Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty Secure Bronze at BWF World Championships

Heartbreak in the Semifinals

India's leading badminton duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, clinched a bronze medal at the BWF World Championships after a tough semifinal match against China's Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi.

The match was a grueling affair lasting one hour and seven minutes, ultimately ending in a 19-21, 21-18, 12-21 defeat for the Indian pair. The initial games were closely contested, but the Chinese team dominated the final game.

Strong Start for Satwik and Chirag

Upon entering court number one, Satwik and Chirag won the toss and chose to receive first, with Satwik taking the lead. A precise return from Satwik allowed the Indian pair to score the first point as the Chinese team hit the shuttle wide.

The Indian duo quickly established a 4-0 lead, but Chen and Liu responded, narrowing the gap to 4-1. Satwik and Chirag surged ahead to a 9-3 advantage, only for the Chinese pair to fight back and reduce the deficit to 9-5. The Indian pair maintained their composure, leading 11-5 at the first break.

Chinese Comeback and Thrilling Second Game

After the interval, Chen and Liu regrouped and launched a strong comeback, leveling the score at 12-12. They took the lead for the first time at 13-14, but Satwik's powerful smash equalized the score again.

Despite falling behind 14-16 after a misjudged block from Chirag, the Indian pair fought back, reducing the score to 16-18. However, the Chinese team secured the first game with a 21-19 win.

In the second game, Satwik and Chirag quickly took a 6-2 lead, but the Chinese pair leveled the score at 8-8. The Indian duo tightened their defense and capitalized on opportunities to lead 15-11. They ultimately won the second game 21-18, with Chirag celebrating the victory.

Decisive Final Game

The third game began poorly for the Indian pair, who quickly fell behind 0-3. The Chinese duo intensified their play, with Chen executing a remarkable backhand that caught Chirag off guard, leading to a 0-6 deficit.

Satwik and Chirag struggled to regain momentum, losing nine consecutive points before finally scoring after a lengthy rally. The Chinese team maintained a commanding 3-11 lead, pushing closer to victory.

Despite a brief resurgence from the Indian pair, they ultimately succumbed to a 12-21 defeat, marking the end of their championship run.

Celebrating a Podium Finish

This bronze medal marks the second World Championships podium finish for the Indian pair since 2022, showcasing their resilience and skill on the international stage.

Another podium finish for SAT-CHI!🥳Indian star #Badminton🏸 duo Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty bag their 2nd World Championships Bronze🥉 since 2022, after going down to China’s🇨🇳 Y. Liu & B. Chen 19-21, 21-18, 12-21 in the Men's Doubles semifinals.Well fought,… pic.twitter.com/EbdsbAr848