Satwiksairaj Rankireddy Celebrates Bronze Medal Win at BWF Championships
Emotional Victory for Indian Badminton Star
New Delhi, September 3: Indian badminton player Satwiksairaj Rankireddy expressed his joy after clinching a bronze medal at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships alongside his partner Chirag Shetty. He also took a moment to reflect on his late father, R Kasi Viswanatham, who passed away in February this year, wishing he could share this achievement with him.
Rankireddy and Shetty faced a tough semifinal match against China's Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi, ultimately losing with scores of 19-21, 21-18, and 12-21. The first two games were fiercely contested, but the Chinese duo dominated the final game, marking the Indian pair's second World Championships medal, following their bronze in Tokyo 2022.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Satwiksairaj paid tribute to his father, sharing his dream of celebrating this moment together. He acknowledged that while his father is no longer with him, he feels his father's love and blessings guiding him. He dedicated the medal not only to his father but also to the entire nation.
"This moment is incredibly special and emotional... Standing on the podium, watching the flag rise, I was filled with emotions," he shared. "Life is unpredictable... Just last year, I envisioned being here and wished to share this moment with my father. Today, I stand here without him. Life goes on... But his love and blessings will always guide me. This one’s for you, Nanna. Everything I am today, and everything I will achieve tomorrow, is because of you and for you... I’ll always strive to make you proud. Love you and miss you a little more..."
He expressed gratitude for the support he received throughout his journey, stating, "This medal belongs not just to me, but to India, my family, and all of you. Thank you everyone #worldchampionship #badminton #teamindia #gratitude #paris," he concluded.
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Since 2011, India has consistently secured at least one medal in the Badminton World Championships, with the duo of Satwiksairaj and Chirag continuing this proud tradition.