India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty during a
men's doubles semi-final match against Malaysia’s
Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin at the India Open 2025 badminton tournament, in
New Delhi, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan)
BIRMINGHAM — India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty advanced to the
second round of the men's doubles competition at the All England Championships,
registering a straight-game victory over Denmark's Daniel Lundgaard and Mads
Vestergaard.
Returning to the court after his father’s loss last month,
Satwik, along with his doubles partner Chirag, put on an impressive display,
securing a 21-17, 21-15 win in just 40 minutes late Wednesday.
Moments after sealing the victory, Satwik raised his finger
to the sky, his gaze fixed skyward -- perhaps reaching out to his father,
searching for him in the beyond.
"It’s tough, but that’s how life is," said Satwik.
"It wasn’t expected."
The 24-year-old from Amalapuram expressed his gratitude to
his partner for being there during this challenging time.
"During hard times he (Shetty) came to my home town, we
practised there a bit, and for that I’m thankful. He was there during my
injury; his parents came down and our coach also came down to my home town.
"My father always wanted to bring them there."
Reflecting on the sudden turn of events in the past
fortnight, Chirag said: "Credit to Satwik, what he’s gone through and how
he’s come back and decided to play here, nobody could do that.
"Kudos to him, he’s a strong-willed person to come out
of it, and keep it all aside, because that’s what his dad would’ve wanted him
to do. I’m proud to be his partner."
The duo, seeded 7th, will next take on China's Hao Nan Xie
and Wei Han Zeng in the round of 16 on Thursday.
In other matches involving Indian players, Lakshya Sen will
face Indonesia's Jonatan Christie, while Malvika Bansod takes on Japan's third
seed Akane Yamaguchi, a two-time World Champion.
Malvika had earlier stunned Singapore's Yeo Jia Min in her
debut match at the prestigious tournament.
World No. 9 Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who reached
back-to-back semifinals at this event, will meet the eighth-seeded Korean pair
of Hye Jeong Kim and Hee Yong Kong.
Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde will square off
against the fifth-seeded Chinese duo of Yan Zhe Feng and Ya Xin Wei.
