Paris Olympics: Satwik-Chirag Crash Out After Shocking Quarter-Final Loss

Paris: In a disappointing turn of events for India, badminton stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were eliminated in the quarter-finals of men’s doubles at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.

The former World No. 1 and Asian Games gold medalists faced a tough defeat against Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Wooi Yik Soh in a three-game match, ending with scores of 21-13, 14-21, 16-21, over an intense 64-minute battle at La Chappelle Arena.

Ranked among India’s top medal prospects, Satwik and Chirag had shown impressive form over the past two to three years. However, their hopes were dashed as the Malaysian pair, performing at their peak, capitalised on the Indians’ unforced errors and fidgety play.

Despite a strong start, with Chirag controlling the net and maintaining short, fast rallies, the Indian duo’s performance faltered. Leading 11-10 at the mid-game interval, they dominated the Malaysians, taking the opening game by a significant margin.

The second game saw Satwik and Chirag struggle on the slower side of the court, as the Malaysian pair applied relentless pressure. India’s doubles coach, Mathias Boe, urged the pair to extend the rallies, but the Malaysians’ aggressive play led to Chirag becoming increasingly error-prone.

The final game was a nail-biter, with both teams making unforced errors early on. Despite a promising 14-10 lead, Satwik and Chirag couldn’t maintain their advantage. The Malaysians focused their attacks on Chirag, eventually securing their victory and a place in the semi-finals.

This loss was particularly painful given that Satwik and Chirag had won their last three encounters against the Malaysian duo in straight games.