In a surprising turn of events, Mathias Boe, the coach behind the success of Indian badminton duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, has announced his retirement from coaching. The Danish mentor shared the news via Instagram on Saturday, following the pair’s heartbreaking quarter-final exit at the Paris Olympics.
Boe behind Satwik/Chirag’s success
Boe’s tenure as coach has been marked by significant achievements for the Indian doubles team. Under his guidance, Satwik and Chirag reached the pinnacle of world rankings last year and played a crucial role in India’s historic Thomas Cup victory in 2022. The Danish coach’s impact on Indian badminton has been undeniable.
Coaching days are over, says Boe
“For me, my coaching days are over,” Boe stated in his social media post. “I am not going to continue in India or anywhere else, for now at least.” This decision marks the end of a successful chapter in Indian badminton, leaving big shoes to fill for his successor.
Before taking up coaching, Boe had an illustrious playing career. Partnering with Carsten Mogensen, he clinched titles at the European Championships, Denmark Open, and French Open. The duo also secured a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics, adding to Boe’s impressive resume.
Despite the disappointment of not securing an Olympic medal, Boe had words of encouragement for Satwik and Chirag. “You have won so much over the past years and you are going to win so much more in the future,” he affirmed. He even concluded with saying, ‘Jai Hind’. The world No. 5 pair entered the Olympics as third seeds and were among India’s strongest medal contenders in badminton.
Boe also expressed gratitude to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Badminton Association of India for their support throughout his coaching tenure. As the badminton world reflects on Boe’s contributions, attention now turns to the future of Satwik and Chirag’s partnership and who will guide them in their next chapter.