Last Updated: April 30, 2023, 22:54 IST
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty received the boys’s doubles title in Badminton Asia Championship (Twitter/BAI)
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty created historical past, profitable a gold medal on the Badminton Asia Championships
India’s top-ranked male doubles gamers Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy sounded elated after profitable the boys’s doubles title in Badminton Asia Championship, with Shetty saying he was over the moon after profitable the title.
The Indian males’s doubles pair created historical past on Sunday as they clinched the gold medal after beating Malaysia’s Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi within the ultimate of the Badminton Asia Championships 2023.
Shetty and Rankireddy defeated the Malaysian pair 16-21, 21-17, 21-19 in an exhilarating males’s doubles ultimate that lasted an hour and 7 minutes.
Badminton Association of India (BAI) President Himanta Biswa Sarma introduced 20 lacs as a reward for this historic win by the Indian pair.
After the match, Shetty acknowledged, “I’m over the moon after profitable the Badminton Asia Championships title. I and Satwik labored actually arduous for this medal and I’m completely satisfied that now we have lastly received the title. Also, I want to thank everybody again dwelling for supporting me.
“I’m grateful for all of the help now we have bought through the Badminton Asia Championships. It’s an important feeling to win this match for the primary time and I’m positive we are going to win extra such titles sooner or later. We will proceed to work arduous to convey laurels to the nation,” concluded Rankireddy.
This is the first-ever gold medal for India at the Badminton Asia Championships in the men’s doubles category. Dipu Ghosh and Raman Ghosh won a bronze medal in 1971 when they reached the semi-finals of the competition. Dinesh Khanna is the only gold medal winner for India in the men’s singles category in the continental championships. He won the men’s singles title back in 1965.
Talking about the final, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy said they rode on the support of the crowd to victory against the Malaysian pair.
“I think today we didn’t play, the crowd played with us. It was a bad start in the first and half of the second game, but we didn’t give up. We kept our nerves; we know how to play in these situations. So, we were waiting for a good rhythm and then take our chances. We were calmer in the second and third games. It felt like playing in Hyderabad. The crowd was amazing.”
Chirag Shetty stated the turning level within the match was at 13-8 within the second sport.
“After 13-8, we tried to play just a little smarter. Service was one factor that labored rather well for us; it took them without warning. We have been additionally quite a bit calmer whereas defending as effectively.”
As for how did it feel to make history and becoming Asian champions, Rankireddy said, “Personally for me, it will take a lot of time to believe that we are the Asian champions. I still don’t believe we are Thomas Cup champions. It’s our dream to win for India and make the flag fly high. Good boost for us as we go into the Olympic qualification period.”
This is definitely the largest title for Shetty and Rankireddy after the World Championship bronze.
Read all of the Latest Sports News, Check Out Orange Cap and Purple Cap holder particulars right here
