The neatest thing that has occurred to Indian badminton in previous few years is undoubtedly, the start of our sensational males’s doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy. Used to creating historical past of their profession thus far, they made positive that they created yet one more historic milestone at Dubai the place the Badminton Asia Championships 2023 have been held. They have been the primary Indian pair to succeed in the boys’s doubles finals because the inception of the Asian championship in 1965.
This Asian championship noticed them play the perfect matches of their profession thus far.
And however the outcomes of the finals, which they gained in 58 pulsating minutes 16-21, 21-17, 21-19, the most effective match of their scintillating profession thus far was the unbelievable manner they hammered the previous 3 times world champions from Indonesia, Muhammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan in simply 28 minutes of whole domination. 21-11, 21-12 within the quarterfinals.
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The Indians in full bloom are a deal with to look at. Never taking a unsuitable step, the duo was superior in assault and complete in defence. There have been no loopholes to be exploited by the opponents at any time within the match. Their providers and return of providers have been bang on and completely managed. Their center court docket defence was effectively orchestrated and anticipated and the physique drive pictures have been lightening and exact. The better part of this match was the best way the Indians turned defence into assault by blocking the smashes and forcing lifts.
If Chirag marshalled the web like a tiger, the smashes by Satwiksairaj have been booming and well-targeted. Ace badminton author and veteran masters nationwide and worldwide champion Shirish Nadkarni says, “For Satwiksairaj and Chirag to have demolished the previous world champions, additionally nicknamed because the ‘daddies’, 21-11, and 21-12 is an outstanding achievement.
To scale back Ahsan and Setiawan to that helpless degree with relentless assault and pace of motion meant our boys have arrived and are enjoying at a excessive degree.
Last we gained a medal within the doubles was manner again in 1971 at Jakarta when the Ghosh brothers, Dipu and Romen stormed into the semifinals to assert the bronze. Highly impressed by Chirag and Satwiksairaj’s understanding of the doubles occasion, legendry Romen Da says,” These two Indian boys are fantastic. They have defeated every top pair in the world. Today they are ranked 5th in the world. The day is not far when they will claim the top spot. They have a perfect understanding of how doubles has to be played. They have covered all bases and there is no loophole or weakness in their approach to doubles.
“You yourself played for India at the highest level Sanjay and you will know that doubles was always neglected in the country. The selection of doubles players also depended on their singles game. It is of late that things have changed, especially after the performance of these two legends. They have got good 8-9 years of badminton in them. They will dominate the international scene for many years to come.”
Romen continued and stated that an enormous credit score also needs to go to our doubles coach Mathias Boe who has executed wonders with our doubles gamers. Indeed, Mathias is to be congratulated for this big success of our boys.
Coming to the finals the place we claimed the gold for the primary time in 58 years; the one one being in males’s singles in 1965 when Dinesh Khanna snatched the gold in singles.
It took them a hard-fought three-game affair earlier than they might stamp the trophy with their names. The Indians have been 3-3 in face to face towards the Malaysian pair Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi. In the final assembly on the Swiss Open this 12 months the Indian pair had gained.
They misplaced the primary recreation 16-21 and have been down 7-13 within the second recreation earlier than they unleashed a fierce comeback and gained 5 factors in a row. And by no means seemed again after that, enjoying in the identical sample with Chirag on the internet and Satwiksairaj smashing from the baseline space. But the best way they rotated the assault was nice. This meant that Chirag additionally received an opportunity to hit from the baseline. In the second recreation additionally we struggled to maintain afloat and have been down 10-14 and 11-15 behind, however equalling at 17 the Indians once more placed on the screws to run away with the sport 21-17.
The decider was a fast-paced affair with relentless physique drives, an space the place Chirag excels. Creating actually good openings Chirag introduced in Satwiksairaj into the assault which was a superb tactic. We drew aside at 16-16 and have been three match factors up at 20-17.
The spectators, on the sides of their seats, will need to have chewed their nails off as they needed to endure heartburn because the Malaysian pair got here near 19-18 earlier than the Indians pulled away for this historic victory.
Sky the Limit for the Duo: Khanna
Dinesh Khanna the legendry singles specialist who had gained gold in 1965, had this to say about our dynamic duo.
“I’m actually pleased that lastly, we’ve gained one other gold. For 58 years I’ve been ready and am actually excited that it has lastly occurred.”
“Though I am dazed that it had come from doubles. I always thought that it would come from singles, with such huge performers in our ranks – Saina Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, Prannoy or Lakshya Sen.”
“But this pair is absolutely superb. They are going from energy to energy. I can’t be shocked in the event that they win the world championship and/or the Asian Games later this 12 months.”
A Lacklustre Campaign Otherwise
However, there was nothing much to write about the rest of our squad, who were mediocre at best. Barring Nagpur Girl Malvika Bansod who showed guts and spunk in taking Akane Yamaguchi the top seed and world number one to close scores 23-25, 19-21 in women’s singles.
Much was expected of former world champion PV Sindhu but she came a cropper yet again against 2nd seed An Se-Young of Korea. Playing her natural attacking fast movement play she had won the first game, but again she started to play defensive and lost the next two games 5-21, 9-21.
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In mixed doubles Rohan Kapoor and Silki Reddy did well to reach the quarters where they lost to Dejan Ferdinansyah and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja of Indonesia 21-18, 19-21, 21-15. In men’s singles, Sen crashed out 7-21, 21-23 in the first round against Loh Kean Yew of Singapore. Prannoy reached the third round but retired in the quarter-final match against Kanta Tsuneyama due to injury. Kidambi Srikanth lost in the 2nd round to 4th seed Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in three games.
But, for Indian badminton, this Badminton Asia championships will forever be remembered for the remarkable exploits of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj RankiReddy.
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