Star Indian men’s doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have “solved” the service variation challenge and are focusing on “comprehensive physical and mental conditioning” to ensure peak performance at the upcoming Paris Olympics. Satwik, 23, and Chirag, 26, have been troubled by the wide variations in drops, spins and wide serves that their opponents, particularly the Koreans and Indonesians, have employed against them during recent tournaments. Chirag said they have faced the “new challenge” and remain confident of negotiating it during the Paris Games.
“As far as withdrawal variations are concerned, they are a new challenge, but giving full importance to it would not be right,” Chirag told PTI in an email interview.
“There was a time when we had difficulty receiving them, but we ended up doing it. We know what to do, we have been practicing and we are confident that we will come out strong at the Olympics to combat this.” The current number 3 pair in the world had narrowly missed out on a place in the quarter-finals at the last Olympics, when, despite winning two of their three group stage matches, the pair failed to qualify for the knockout stage, as the decision was decided based on the number of games. won and lost.
“The experience of playing at the Tokyo Olympics was invaluable in our preparation for the Paris Games. Competing at such a high level has taught us crucial lessons about dealing with pressure, staying focused and adapting to different playing conditions,” said Satwik.
Chirag added: “The intensity and atmosphere of the Olympics is unmatched and having been through it once, we now have a better understanding of what to expect and the initial nervousness of being at the Olympics for the first time won’t be either. there.
“Plus, winning the French Open naturally gave us a significant confidence boost.” In recent years, the pair have managed to become world number one after a series of sensational performances, including winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, a bronze at the World Championships in 2022 and gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
They also played a crucial role in India’s epic Thomas Cup victory in 2022. Satwik and Chirag won the French Open and Thai Open this year after reaching the finals in the Malaysian Super 750 and Indian Super 750.
“As the Olympics approach, our approach becomes more focused and strategic. We are adjusting every aspect of our game to ensure peak performance when we take the court in Paris,” said Satwik.
“This includes developing specific game plans for our potential opponents, studying their strengths and weaknesses in detail, focusing on targeted drills, and improving our court positions and shot selections.
“We are taking a holistic approach to our preparations. We are in a good rhythm and looking forward to returning to the Olympics. Comprehensive physical and mental conditioning is at the heart of our preparation.” The pair have been troubled at times by left-right pairings, such as Koreans Seo Seung-jae and Kang Min-hyuk and Danes Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, but Chirag feels he has no problem against any particular pairing.
“I can’t identify a specific pair that we find particularly difficult to play. On any given day, if a pair plays well, it can pose a challenge. However, I believe that if we play to our best, we can beat anyone,” he said.
“So there is no specific pair or left-right combination that particularly affects us. That being said, all of our competitors at the Olympics will be very good…” On expectations and how to deal with the pressure at the big-ticket event, Satwik said: “We understand that the Olympics is the biggest tournament there is and naturally there are hopes and wishes of every athlete heading to the Olympics.
“We don’t want to think too much about the pressure, we want to go out there, enjoy the atmosphere, have fun on the court and take it one game at a time and see what happens. we want to put ourselves under any pressure from the start.
“We’re used to the expectations and pressures that come with our game…our main goal is to go out there and do great things on the court and have fun while doing it.” Chirag and Satwik are also mentors for the PNB MetLife Junior Badminton Championship (JBC), which will begin on August 1 in the national capital.
“The JBC provides a fantastic opportunity to nurture emerging badminton talent in India. The JBC also offers players access to mentorship, coaching and training from veterans of the sport. Badminton has significantly shaped my life and I want to share its benefits with the next generation, helping them achieve their dreams,” said Chirag.
Satwik said: “As JBC mentors, we offer video guidance to young athletes on training, techniques, strategies to improve their game, tips on mental resilience and managing the stress of competition. Chirag and I will also offer tips to players in person whenever We visit any match in the city’s edition.”
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