Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty Gear Up for BWF World Tour Finals Challenge
A Tough Challenge Awaits Indian Doubles Pair
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are set to face a significant challenge as they prepare for the BWF World Tour Finals, which commence on Wednesday. The Indian men's doubles team finds itself in what many consider the 'group of death'.
This prestigious tournament showcases the top eight players or pairs in each category, based on their performances throughout the BWF World Tour season. Former world No. 1 Satwik and Chirag, who currently hold the No. 3 ranking globally, are the sole representatives from India at this elite event.
In Group B, the Asian Games champions will encounter a tough lineup that includes several Olympic medalists. They will kick off their campaign against China's Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who are the silver medalists from the Paris Olympics, followed by a match against Indonesia's Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri, known for their speed and aggressive play.
Their final group match on Friday will see them face Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, the bronze medalists from the Paris Olympics and the second seeds in the tournament.
The head-to-head statistics highlight the uphill battle they face. Satwik and Chirag have a record of 3–7 against the world No. 7 Chinese duo, having lost to them in the Hong Kong Open final in September, although they did secure a win in their latest encounter at the China Masters.
Additionally, they have previously lost to the world No. 11 Indonesian pair during the Australian Open quarterfinals, while Aaron and Soh have consistently posed challenges for them over the years. With only the top two pairs from each group moving on to the semi-finals, the stakes are high.
Despite not clinching a title this year, Satwik and Chirag have shown remarkable consistency and resilience after recovering from injuries. They earned a bronze medal at the World Championships and were runners-up at both the Hong Kong Open and the China Masters.
The duo also reached the semi-finals in several tournaments, including the Malaysia Open, India Open, Singapore Open, China Open, and Denmark Open.
India's participation in this year-end finale has been limited but impactful. PV Sindhu is the only Indian to have won the title, taking home the women's singles crown in 2018, while Saina Nehwal was the runner-up in 2011. In mixed doubles, Jwala Gutta and V. Diju were finalists at the 2009 Super Series Finals.
Despite the challenging draw, the pedigree of Satwik and Chirag in high-stakes events keeps the hopes of Indian fans alive. A strong performance in Hangzhou could lead to India's first men’s doubles victory at the season-ending finals.