The timing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s resurgence could hardly be more telling. Just two weeks before they come to Japan to defend their Asian Games crown, the duo won the China Masters title — thereby giving a timely reminder that when it matters the most, India’s formidable men’s doubles pair is hitting top gear once again.Three years ago, Satwik-Chirag made history at the Hangzhou Asiad, winning India’s first-ever gold medal in badminton at the at the Asian Games — a feat that had eluded even legends such as Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu.Given the depth and quality of Asian badminton, the triumph carried a significance comparable to an Olympic or World Championships medal.This time, though, the equation is different. Satwik and Chirag arrive not as hungry challengers writing an origin story, but as defending champions with a target firmly on their backs. Yet, neither Satwik nor Chirag appear keen to carry that weight onto the court. Chirag has made it clear that the pair simply wants to enjoy themselves, as they always have, refusing to let expectation dictate their mindset.For coach, Kim Tan Her, the China Masters title is more than just a confidence boost. It is momentum with substance. Winning a title immediately before a major event, he believes, gives the pair a genuine edge and leaves them feeling considerably more assured.The road to a repeat, however, will be anything but straightforward.Aichi-Nagoya is likely to present a gauntlet of elite combinations: two pairs each from China and Indonesia, along with Korea’s world No. 1 duo. Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando-Daniel Marthin and Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto, as well as China’s world champions Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang, loom as among the sternest challenges to India’s title defence.What continues to set Satwik and Chirag apart is how far their game has evolved beyond brute force. The thunderous smashes remain, but opponents have become increasingly adept at blunting that weapon. So, the pair has learned to build points differently. Instead of rushing to unleash their “most-favoured weapon” — the smash — the pair is now using early exchanges to manipulate rallies, move opponents around and create openings.Chirag, once known primarily for his work at the net, has also sharpened his defence into a potent counter-attacking weapon, making the pair considerably harder to unsettle.
