When Satwiksairaj Rankireddy recently spoke about the Indian badminton team’s quiet return home after winning bronze at the Thomas Cup, it triggered a wider debate on how achievements in sports beyond cricket are acknowledged in the country. While the conversation around recognition may have dominated headlines, for Satwik and Chirag Shetty, the bigger takeaway from Horsens, Denmark, was the renewed belief that they are moving in the right direction again ahead of the World Championships and Asian Games later this year. Fresh off India’s first Thomas Cup podium finish since 2022, the former world No. 1 duo sat down with Hyderabad Times for a heart-to-heart on rediscovering their rhythm, navigating difficult phases after the Paris Olympics, and the chemistry that continues to shape their partnership on and off the court.
Looking purely at the badminton side of things, how important was this bronze medal for your confidence as a pair?
Chirag: I think this bronze medal definitely gives us a huge boost going forward. We didn’t have the ideal start to the year, especially with the early-round exits at the India Open and the All England Open, but this campaign has helped us regain confidence and rhythm. Before the Thomas Cup, we weren’t really at our best, but during the tournament we played some very good matches, especially against Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals, which was a thriller. Of course, we would have loved to make the final against China, but reaching the podium again is still a very positive result for us.
Big wins, narrow loss: Satwik-Chirag lead from the front in Horsens
Group
- Al bt Jonathan Bing Lai/Kevin Lee (Canada) 21-10, 21-11
- l bt Rizky Hidayat/Jack Yu (Australia) 21-14, 21-16
- l lost to Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang (China) 13-21, 21-13, 24-26
Quarterfinal
- l bt Wang Chi-lin/Chiu Hsiang-Chieh (Chinese Taipei) 23-21, 19-21, 21-12
What were the biggest takeaways from this Thomas Cup campaign going forward?
Satwik: One of the biggest takeaways from this campaign is that we feel we are getting back to our best level. China were probably the most balanced team in the tournament, we pushed them all the way and lost narrowly 2-3 (in Group Stage). That performance gives us confidence that we are on the right track. With major events like the World Championships in August and Asian Games in September coming up, this performance gives us belief that we can compete for medals again and hopefully go one step further next time.
After the ups and downs since the Paris Olympics, where do you feel you stand as a pair right now?
Chirag: Since the Paris Olympics in 2024, one of us has been dealing with injuries, so we haven’t been able to play at 100%. It hasn’t been easy, but despite the challenges, we still reached the semifinals and finals — something not every pair can achieve, which we see as a positive sign. It shows we can handle tough situations. We’re top-level players, and even on an off day, we can beat some of the best. That keeps us motivated.
Satwik: We don’t panic or overthink when things don’t go perfectly — we understand each other well. If we’re both fit on a given day, we know we can win. After the Olympics, I was injured and he covered for me in tournaments; later, he wasn’t well and I covered for him. I think those phases have made us mentally stronger as a pair. After winning the Thomas Cup in 2022, a lot changed for us as players. We learned how to handle pressure better and stay calm in tight situations.
The way you both speak about covering for each other and staying calm together reflects a strong understanding now. But when you first started playing together, what were the biggest adjustments you had to make as a pair?
Satwik: At the start, it was difficult for us to gel as a team, but over time, things have improved. Personally, I feel we share the same mindset and goal. We both think the same way about the game, our discipline, sleep, and preparation. That alignment helps us perform at the right moment. We also support each other off the court. Chirag, for example, takes care of things outside the game — talking to physios, coordinating when I was injured. That makes things much easier for me.
Chirag: But initially, both of us were backcourt players, so the big question was who would take the front court. That was a major concern in the beginning. After discussing it with our coach, I decided to move to the front court, which really helped balance the partnership.
Satwik: Communication was another challenge. I wasn’t very comfortable with Hindi back then. On court, I was used to speaking in Telugu, but after partnering with him, I had to think about how to say things in Hindi. Even simple calls would make me pause and translate in my head. But over time, it became easier and more natural, and we grew more comfortable with each other. We’ve never had any serious fights, just normal disagreements. Even when we disagree, it’s always respectful. But most of our arguments are actually about food. He loves trying different cuisines like Japanese, Korean, everything — while I prefer simple Indian food, and like sticking to my comfort zone. I’m not very adventurous when it comes to food.
Before you became one of India’s most successful badminton partnerships, you were two teenagers navigating life at the Gopichand Academy. What memories from those formative years still make you smile today?
Satwik: I joined the academy pretty early, in 2012. I was just 12 years old. Honestly, I was a bit nervous and even shivering when I saw all the seniors around. Saina, Sindhu, and the others were walking past, training at such a high level. I used to watch them from upstairs and think, ‘Wow, I want to become like them someday.’ The seniors were very supportive and always gave us advice. Srikanth bhaiya and Pranoy bhaiya were especially close to us. I even used to borrow Pranoy bhaiya’s shoes because we had the same size.
Chirag: I joined later, in 2016. For me, it was a completely new experience because I had never stayed away from home before. Initially, it was tough and I felt homesick. But slowly, I got used to it. A few months later, we shifted to the new academy setup, which had better rooms and facilities, so that helped. Seeing all the top players like Saina, Kashyap, Pranoy, Sindhu, and Srikanth training together for the first time was special. The Thomas Cup is unlike any other tournament. Winning it in 2022 is still one of the happiest moments of my career because the emotions and team spirit are so special.
