Despite a loss in the China Masters to cap off their otherwise stellar 2023, Satwik-Chirag are undoubtedly one of the best men’s doubles pair. Taking Indian Badminton to new highs, the duo rose through the ranks to be where they are today. The India pair now find themselves at second position in the BWF World Rankings. Speaking, EXCLUSIVELY to Insidespot.IN, legendary badminton coach, S.M. Arif decoded the reason behind their success, despite India’s known struggle with the doubles format in badminton.
Satwik-Chirag’s rise to prominence in 2023
Five championships to their name, including the coveted Super 1000 title in Indonesia and India’s first-ever Gold medal at the Asian Games; The year 2023 has been historic for Satwik and Chirag. The Korea Open, the Super 500, the Swiss Open, and the Indian combination all triumphed. Throughout the year, the Indian team advanced to the final of four competitions, including the China Masters in Shenzhen, where they placed second.
Speaking on the topic, Arif stressed on the importance of how Mathias Boe has changed the whole scenario for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. Arif who has been has been a badminton coach for more than four decades now said:
“The two boys have been playing together, and their performance has been quite good for some time now. Various players and coaches, including specific doubles coaches, have observed them, noting significant improvement. However, this coach from Denmark [Mathias Boe] has played a crucial role in shaping their skills based on their genetic predispositions, especially for doubles play.”
“Additionally, the exposure gained from participating in numerous tournaments has been essential for their development. Tournament practice is a vital aspect for any player to progress in their skills.” Arif added speaking exclusively to Insidesport.IN
India’s dull history with doubles categories
India has not been so good in doubles badminton, apart from Satwik, Chirag, in recent years, except for a handful of bright moments. Speaking to Insidesport, Arif delved into the reasons and premise of it being as such.
“To be very frank, our country has never excelled in doubles. The reason is that nobody took interest in doubles because it didn’t receive the importance it deserved. We primarily produced single players, and as they aged, some would transition to playing doubles.” said Arif
“The entire world was moving towards specialization in both singles and doubles. The game has become extremely demanding and fast-paced, with high physical requirements. Specialization has emerged in every field, including doubles and other advanced levels.” Arif added.
However, Arif hopes that with Satwik-Chirag taking the game to new heights, it has been improving the stature of the doubles format in India. The format is gaining popularity among the players. Arif delved into how the current scenario can be improved to an further extent.
“First of all, players should consider taking up doubles as a specialty, specifically choosing to play doubles. Also, partnerships need to be actively developed because it’s a game that relies on collaboration.”
“When two players have experience playing together, they gain exposure and start understanding each other. This process helps them develop the combination required to compete at the international, national, or any level, regardless of the category they are in. That’s how it comes about, and one of the reasons they play these roles.” he added.
India’s Constant Struggle in Mixed Doubles
While India still has some prominent names in the men’s and women’s doubles categories, the nation has significantly taken a backseat in the mixed doubles. Resonation on the issue Arif said:
“There aren’t many who consistently perform well; they keep changing players, which is not helpful. One of the top pairs that comes to mind for their exceptional international performance is Diju and Jwala Gutta. They even managed to beat the world champions in the early rounds of the World Championship, earning a medal in that event. However, the issue lies in the constant changing of partners. This won’t be of great help. “
“I firmly believe that, given the talent we have, we can improve in doubles and mixed doubles. The key is for partners to stick together, gain exposure, and that will be beneficial.” Arif concluded.
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