Satwiksairaj-Chirag become first Indian duo to reach number one spot in BWF Rankings

The Indian men’s doubles badminton duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty achieved a historic milestone by securing the number one spot in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Rankings. This remarkable achievement makes them the first Indian duo to reach this coveted position.

Their journey to the top was propelled by their outstanding performance at the men’s doubles competition during the recent Asian Games in Hangzhou, where they clinched the gold medal. Affectionately known as ‘Sat-Chi’ by their fans, their victory in Hangzhou led to a significant leap of two spots in the rankings, ultimately landing them at the number one position.

History made! 🏸🇮🇳 Satwik and Chirag clinch the first-ever gold 🥇 in men's doubles at the Asian Games 2023. 🌟 #AsianGamesGold #BadmintonChamps #TNBSL @satwiksairaj & Chirag Shetty@BAI_Media @Media_SAI 🥇🙌🏻🎉💯🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/lOUk4NhABE

— Tamil Nadu Badminton Super League (@TNBSLOfficial) October 7, 2023

In accomplishing this feat, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty join a select group of Indian badminton stars who have achieved the top ranking. They follow in the footsteps of legendary players like Prakash Padukone, Saina Nehwal, and Kidambi Srikanth.

A statement from the Badminton Association of India (BAI) Media acknowledged their achievement, stating, “India’s top men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty jumped up two spots to achieve their best-ever career-high rank of World No. 1 in the latest BWF World Rankings on Tuesday. They are the first Indian duo and fourth Indians after legendary Prakash Padukone, Saina Nehwal, and Kidambi Srikanth to achieve this feat.”

Satwiksairaj-Chirag become first Indian duo to reach number one spot in BWF Rankings

Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/Bpi05P5t0x#SatwiksairajRankireddy #ChiragShetty #BAIMedia #badminton #AsianGames pic.twitter.com/vwKxSXUoZc

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) October 10, 2023

Their remarkable journey to the top spot included a historic gold medal victory at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, where they defeated South Korea’s Choi Sol-Gyu and Kim Won-ho in the final, securing India’s first-ever gold in badminton at the continental meet. They also played a crucial role in the Indian men’s team’s silver medal win, marking India’s first-ever medal in badminton team events in Asian Games history.

Starting from 2022, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty embarked on a successful streak. Since then, they have clinched five BWF World Tour titles, commencing with their Indian Open title win in January 2022, where they defeated Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan. This winning momentum continued with victories at the French Open later in the same year.

.@SonySportsNetwk

A smashing end to #TeamIndia’s badminton campaign 🏸💥

📹 | Relive the moment when the sublime pair of @satwiksairaj & @Chirag secured India's first-ever GOLD in badminton at the #AsianGames 🫡#SonySportsNetwork #Cheer4India #Hangzhou2022 #IssBaar100Paar… pic.twitter.com/zfVBLoapTL

— Earnest And Soulful (@EarnestnSoulful) October 7, 2023

In 2023, they continued their stellar performance by securing titles at the Swiss Open, Indonesia Open, and Korea Open. Their triumph at the Indonesia Open was particularly notable as they defeated the second-seeded Malaysian pair of Aaron Chia and Wooi Yik Soh in the final, becoming the first Indian pair to claim a BWF Super 1000 World Tour title.

Additionally, Satwiksairaj and Chirag played a pivotal role in India’s historic Thomas Cup victory, marking the first time India had won this prestigious men’s team championship since its inception in 1949. They contributed to India’s emphatic 3-0 win against Indonesia in the final.

Their success extended to the Commonwealth Games, where they secured the gold medal in the men’s doubles category in Birmingham, defeating the local pair of Ben Lane and Sean Vardy. They also won silver in the mixed team competition.

Notably, shortly after their Commonwealth Games triumph, the duo clinched a bronze medal at the World Championships in Dubai, making history as India’s first-ever men’s doubles medalists at the event.

‘Sat-Chi,’ as they are affectionately known, continued their remarkable journey by capturing the Asian Championships gold in April of this year, defeating Malaysia’s Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi in a thrilling final.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s exceptional achievements in the world of badminton have not only made them household names but have also brought immense pride to India. Their dedication, talent, and perseverance have rightfully earned them the top spot in the BWF Rankings and a special place in the hearts of sports enthusiasts around the country.