Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty Trust Their Game on the Court
Indian badminton stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have shared that they do not have a backup plan when they play. They believe in focusing on their strengths and adjusting their strategies based on their opponents. This approach has proven successful, particularly highlighted by their recent victory at the China Masters.
Rankireddy and Shetty, who are currently ranked fifth in men’s doubles, have previously been runners-up at the China Masters in both 2023 and 2025. They believe that striking the right balance between playing to their strengths and making necessary tactical changes is key to their success.
“We always rely on Plan A; we don’t think about Plan B. Our strategy depends on the game style of our opponents. The Chinese prefer a fast-paced game, while players from Malaysia and Indonesia might have a different attacking style,” said Satwik during a recent online interaction.
The pair also credits their improved fitness as a significant factor in their triumph. After a disappointing experience at the BWF World Championships, they made a strong comeback, showcasing one of their best performances at the China event.
In the final match on Sunday, Rankireddy and Shetty turned their slow start into a thrilling comeback against China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu, winning the match 11-21, 21-13, 21-17, which secured them their first China Masters title. This victory also marks their second title of the BWF World Tour season.
“We felt much more fit after the World Championships, and that made a big difference,” said Satwik.
Chirag highlighted the intensity of their journey to the final as a crucial part of their preparation. Having played through a series of challenging matches, the duo felt stronger physically and mentally heading into the last showdown.
“When we played five matches at the China Open, we had to fight hard in almost all of them except for the first round. That experience was really beneficial for us,” noted Chirag.
This landmark victory is their tenth BWF World Tour title and serves as a significant boost in confidence for Rankireddy and Shetty, especially with the Asian Games coming up later this month.
