From being the World No 1 not too long ago, consistently going to the finals and being in contention for World Tour titles, and even entering Paris Olympics as one of the medal favourites, the past year has been one filled with frustrations for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The Indian duo, after their first-round win at Japan Open Super 750 on Wednesday, hoped that in the lead-up to the World Championships next month in Paris, they can be injury-free together. That is why they decided to skip the North American circuit on the BWF World Tour after the Singapore-Indonesia leg where Chirag played through a back niggle.
Satwik and Chirag made a strong start to their campaign in Tokyo, easing past South Korea’s Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju 21-18, 21-10 to move into the last 16.
“(This break) was actually needed,” Chirag said. “We had sent entry for US, Canada as well. But after Singapore and Indonesia, we needed that break because I especially was not fit enough leading up to the Singapore-Indonesia Open. But right now, I had some good couple of weeks, body feels much better than it was. We just took a break the first week after we got back, freshened up. And then got back to practice.
Satwik said that the goal for World Championships is to just work a way out to remain healthy, simultaneously, instead of one of them carrying a niggle. “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. So we haven’t played without injury for the past one year. So we have been struggling with niggles, niggles.” Even in this period of ups and downs, SatChi have been the most consistent performers from India on the circuit, reaching semifinals at Malaysia Open, India Open and Singapore Open.
“Still, we are managing to play some good quality games. So that is a positive side,” Satwik added. But right now, our aim is to get injury-free and be healthy all the time. And just not thinking so much ahead. No goals as of now. Obviously, we want to do well, but at the same time, we want to be healthy. And once we are healthy, I know we can do well. So the only thing is injuries are holding us, restricting our game. But right now, we are both feeling good because we had a break after Singapore. Both are really fit enough, so we’ll see how it goes.”
Another player hoping to put together a good run in the weeks ahead of Paris Worlds, is the man who was India’s best performer at the very arena last year at the Olympics but came agonisingly short of the podium. Lakshya Sen produced a composed performance to defeat China’s Wang Zheng Xing 21-11, 21-18, setting up a second-round clash with Japanese star and home favourite Kodai Naraoka.
“It feels really good to win a match,” said the world No 18 in his post-match chat with BWF. “I’ve been struggling on the court and off the court with niggles, which are keeping me away from badminton. It’s frustrating, the last few months, but I’m focussed and trying to do the right thing.
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“I’ve been training well over the last few months. There were certain shoulder and ankle injuries. I was doing everything else to protect those parts. I’ve put in some good training weeks, and I’m just hoping that I get back to winning ways and play more matches. Play freely, win or lose, just go there and fight.”
