India’s leading men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, are aiming for simultaneous peak fitness after a year marred by frustrating injuries, as they begin their Japan Open campaign.
Solid Start in Tokyo
Satwik and Chirag, once ranked world number one, opened their Japan Open Super 750 journey with a convincing victory. They smoothly defeated South Korea’s Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju 21-18, 21-10, advancing to the last 16.
This strong performance follows a strategic break. The Indian duo opted to skip the North American circuit of the BWF World Tour, prioritizing rest and recovery after Chirag played through a back niggle during the Singapore-Indonesia leg.
The Battle Against Persistent Niggles
Chirag Shetty highlighted that the recent break was “actually needed,” confirming his body feels much better now. He had not been fully fit in the lead-up to the Singapore-Indonesia Open.
Satwik further elaborated on their shared challenge: “For us, (the target before Worlds) is to get fit 100%, both of us. It’s been up and down. Once he’s better, I’ll have some niggles. Once I’m better, he’s having some niggles.”
They haven’t played completely injury-free together for about a year. Despite these continuous setbacks, the pair has shown remarkable consistency, reaching semifinals at major events like the Malaysia Open, India Open, and Singapore Open.
Fitness Over Medals: The World Championships Goal
The primary goal for Satwik and Chirag ahead of the World Championships in Paris next month isn’t about specific achievements, but simply to remain healthy at the same time. They believe that once they are fully fit, their performance will speak for itself.
Satwik stated that injuries have been “holding us, restricting our game.” Both players are currently feeling good after their break, optimistic that their improved physical condition will allow them to play their natural, high-quality game.
Lakshya Sen’s Own Road to Recovery
Another prominent Indian shuttler, Lakshya Sen, is also navigating his own path back to full form. Sen, who was India’s best performer at last year’s Olympics in the same venue but narrowly missed a medal, secured a composed victory against China’s Wang Zheng Xing (21-11, 21-18).
The world No. 18 admitted to struggling with “niggles, which are keeping me away from badminton.” He described the past few months as frustrating due to shoulder and ankle injuries, but affirmed his focus on recovery and training.
Sen is determined to get back to winning ways, aiming to “play freely, win or lose, just go there and fight.”
- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty secured a first-round win at the Japan Open after a crucial break to recover from injuries.
- Their main objective for the upcoming World Championships is for both players to be 100% injury-free simultaneously, a state they haven’t experienced in over a year.
- Despite injury challenges, the duo has consistently reached semifinals at top tournaments.
- Fellow Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen is also battling persistent niggles and is focused on regaining his full fitness and competitive edge.
As the badminton season progresses towards major championships, the health and fitness of these key Indian players will be paramount to their success on the global stage.
