Satwiksairaj Rankireddy has opened up about the recurring shoulder injury troubling him ahead of the BWF World Championships in New Delhi. The powerful Indian doubles specialist has been managing the problem for several years. It has repeatedly interrupted his partnership with Chirag Shetty. After winning the Singapore Open Super 750, their first title in two years, the duo were forced to retire at the Indonesia Open and withdraw from the Japan Open following further flare-ups.
“It is always tough with the shoulder injury. I have been managing it for the last few years. It is on and off all the time. Sometimes I feel good and sometimes I feel not so good. It is frustrating. Obviously, you have the momentum and you want to continue,” the hard-hitting shuttler told PTI. He added, “If you play a good tournament and then again you are off, it is irritating for your partner as well. It is not easy, but we are used to it. We know how to handle this situation. We have to respect the body as well.” Despite the setback, the formidable pair will retain their aggressive approach. “Our game style is the same. We didn’t change so much. It will be aggressive and explosive,” he said.
“It’s mainly about the first four shots”: Satwik-Chirag reveal their gameplan for BWF World Championships
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are entering the World Championships with a clear tactical focus. The formidable Indian pair have identified the opening exchanges as a crucial part of their game. Their strategy revolves around controlling the serve, return and first few shots before opponents can establish their attacking rhythm. This approach is particularly important against Indonesian and Malaysian pairs, who are renowned for their speed and front-court play. The explosive Indian duo recently underlined this strategy after winning the Singapore Open. “With the Indonesians or Malaysians, it’s mainly about the first four shots. If they put us under pressure, they always end up on top,” the powerful right-hander explained.
The experienced pair have also worked extensively on their service and receiving patterns with coach Tan Kim Her. The emphasis has been on making better decisions immediately after the serve. “We are just mainly focusing on the service and receiving, most of the time in the practice,” Satwik said. He added, “We are also focussing on the spin serve, trying new things in the first 3-4 strokes. Games have speeded up, everyone is playing very fast in the first four strokes.” Chirag has similarly stressed the need to remain calm when opponents disrupt their preferred attacking patterns. Their gameplan will therefore depend on winning those early exchanges before unleashing their trademark explosive attacks.
