As the Paris 2024 Olympics approach, former Olympian Parupalli Kashyap has named Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty as strong contenders for gold in badminton. Kashyap’s praise highlights their impressive journey since the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty surprised everyone by defeating the eventual gold medalists, Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin. However, a loss in their second match jeopardized their chances of advancing. Although they won their final group game, it wasn’t enough to get them into the quarterfinals. The disappointment was so great that it took them nearly a month to recover, along with their coach, Mathias Boe.
Three years later, Satwiksairaj and Chirag have become top contenders in men’s doubles. With Boe’s coaching, they have achieved remarkable success, including winning a World Championships bronze, an Asian Games gold, and an Asian Championships title. They also helped India win the Thomas Cup two years ago.
Now ranked world No. 3, Satwiksairaj and Chirag are aiming to win India’s first-ever badminton gold at the Olympics. Kashyap sees them as favorites but acknowledges the challenges ahead. They are in Group C, facing notable competitors like world No. 7 Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto, and Kashyap believes their toughest opponents will be the top-ranked Chinese pair Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang, along with the fourth-seeded South Korean duo Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae.
Kashyap, who made history as the first Indian to reach the men’s singles quarterfinals at the Olympics in 2012, also commented on HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen. He considers them “dark horses” for the Paris Games. Prannoy has won multiple Super Series titles and medaled in the World Championships and Asian Games. Lakshya Sen, who reached the All-England final and made a strong comeback after initial setbacks, is also seen as a strong competitor.
As the Paris 2024 Olympics approach, former Olympian Parupalli Kashyap has named Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty as strong contenders for gold in badminton. Kashyap’s praise highlights their impressive journey since the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty surprised everyone by defeating the eventual gold medalists, Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin. However, a loss in their second match jeopardized their chances of advancing. Although they won their final group game, it wasn’t enough to get them into the quarterfinals. The disappointment was so great that it took them nearly a month to recover, along with their coach, Mathias Boe.
Three years later, Satwiksairaj and Chirag have become top contenders in men’s doubles. With Boe’s coaching, they have achieved remarkable success, including winning a World Championships bronze, an Asian Games gold, and an Asian Championships title. They also helped India win the Thomas Cup two years ago.
Now ranked world No. 3, Satwiksairaj and Chirag are aiming to win India’s first-ever badminton gold at the Olympics. Kashyap sees them as favorites but acknowledges the challenges ahead. They are in Group C, facing notable competitors like world No. 7 Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto, and Kashyap believes their toughest opponents will be the top-ranked Chinese pair Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang, along with the fourth-seeded South Korean duo Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae.
Talking about Prannoy, Kashyap said: “He is a multiple super series winner and made it to the medal in World Championships, won the bronze beating Victor Axelson and also won the medal in the Asian Games against Lee Zii Jia from match point down. “Both Lakshya and Prannoy have faced tough situations and have come out trumps. They both are part of the Thomas Cup winning team and have huge experience in big matches. They are capable of anything but they are surely the dark horses. “They can beat anyone in the draw, be it Li Shi Feng or Victor. I won’t say they are the favourites, but they have a huge chance to create upsets and progress in the tournament.”
With the Paris 2024 Olympics on the horizon, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are among the top hopefuls for a gold medal in badminton, according to Parupalli Kashyap. Their past achievements and current form make them serious contenders, while HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen also have the potential to make a significant impact.
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