Chirag Shetty/Satwiksairaj Rankireddy clinch historic bronze at the BWF World Championships

India’s Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy settled for a historic bronze in the ongoing BWF World Championships after losing 22-20, 18-21, 16-21 to Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in the men’s doubles semifinals on Saturday.

The Indian duo became the first pair to achieve this feat in men’s doubles. It was also India’s second medal overall in the doubles event in the BWF World Championships, with Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa claiming a bronze way back in 2011 in the women’s doubles.

The Malaysian pair of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik got the better of the Indian pair in 77 minutes. The Indian duo put up a great fight after winning the first set. However, the next two sets went in favour of the Malaysian duo. It was the sixth successive defeat for the Indian pair against the Malaysian duo. Earlier this month, they lost to the same combo of Chia and Yik in the mixed team final of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The World No. 7 pair, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, started off well in the tournament with a remarkable victory against J. Solis and A. Marroquin, 21-8, 21-10. The duo then defeated J. Bay and L. Molhede in the round of 16 with 21-12, 21-10. 

The quarterfinals against the Japanese pair was an exciting clash as it ensured India’s first-ever medal in the men’s doubles in the World Championships. They won 24-22, 15-21, 21-14 to create history. This pair of Hoki and Kobayashi won silver in the 2019 edition of the tournament.

Apart from the duo, there were some incredible performances from the Indian players, including HS Prannoy’s victory against Lakshya Sen. Saina Nehwal too showed some glimpses of her past performances, but she failed to win her pre-quarters.