HYDERABAD: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have not only ended their own losing streak but also snapped the remarkable 34-match winning streak of world champions Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae from Korea, on their way to clinching the Singapore Open title on Sunday.
A Special Victory
"Winning a tournament after two years makes it a special week for us. Beating Kim-Seo, the most consistent pair over the last year, is even more special. In fact, we have come close to beating them in the two times we faced them previously. But ending their winning streak—I didn't know it was 34 matches—was great," Chirag said.
Virtual Assistance from Mathaias Boe
Recently, the duo has also received virtual assistance from Mathaias Boe, the Danish Olympic medallist and coach, who trained them before Tan Her returned for a second stint after the Paris Olympic disappointment.
"Mathaias is now assisting us virtually. All four of us (two players and coaches) have figured out what should be done. It has been helping us a lot," Chirag added.
Overcoming Injuries and Setbacks
Satwik said that injuries and personal setbacks have affected them over the last few months. "When we were peaking, we suddenly had an injury or a personal setback. We know injuries are part and parcel of the sport. Over the years, we have learned how to get on with all these things," Satwik said.
He also mentioned that the lack of good sparring partners in India has been affecting their performance. "Like in Indonesia, China, Malaysia, or Korea, we don't have good sparring partners to practice with in India. It definitely affected our performance, particularly when we face left-handed shuttlers. After we lost early at the All England this year, we had a two-day session with an Indonesian pair, and the results were quite good."
"Hopefully, we will get some good doubles teams in India as well," Satwik added.
Looking Ahead
The victory in Singapore marks a significant comeback for the Indian pair, who have faced challenges in recent months. With the support of their coaching team and virtual guidance from Mathaias Boe, Satwik and Chirag are optimistic about their future performances.
