Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty became the first men’s doubles pairing from India to ensure a medal at badminton world championship after they pip reigning world champions and 2nd seed Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi in three game marathon. The Indian pair won the first game 24-22 after they were ahead comfortably at one stage but the Japanese pair staged a comeback and made it even. The Japanese got the first game point but the Indian pair leveled back and went onto clinch the game after some see saw battle.
The Indian pair took a lead in the starting moments of second game but Japanese showed their class and surged ahead. They maintained their lead to take the game 21-15. Indian pair again started well in the third game and maintained a healthy lead upfront and they maintained it throughout the game. Japanese pair never draw level as the Indians capitalized and won it 21-15 to seal a semi final berth in Tokyo.
✅ First 🇮🇳 MD pair to secure a #BWFWorldChampionships medal
✅ Only 2nd #WorldChampionships medal from 🇮🇳 doubles pair
✅ 13th medal for 🇮🇳 at World’s@satwiksairaj & @Shettychirag04 script history yet again 😍#BWFWorldChampionships2022#BWC2022#Tokyo2022#IndiaontheRise pic.twitter.com/POW0uYt7KC
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2022
India has only won a lone bronze medal in doubles category at world championship and that came in women’s doubles discipline when Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa bagged the honors.
Shetty and Rankireddy will face the test of sixth seed Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia in the semi final.
Head to head
Indian pair find themselves on backfoot as far as head to head meetings are confirmed. They trail the Malaysians 5-0 and they had difficulties facing the pair of Chia and Yik in the past. Their last meeting came in the team final of Commonwealth Games where the Malaysians won in straight games 21-18, 21-15.
What to expect
As far as the rankings are concerned, the Indian pair sits at 7th spot and the Malaysian pair enjoys 6th position in the rankings. History has favoured the Malaysians in the past and Indians have to come with a pretty special effort to upstage the pair of Chia and Soh. The Malaysian pair had a win in straight games in the quarter finals but Chirag and Rankireddy have to battle it out in a three game marathon and tiredness can be a factor for them.
Live streaming information
Voot mobile application and official website will stream the match live in India while Sports 18 will broadcast the action live on your television set.
Start time
From 8:30 AM IST on 27 August 2022
