New Delhi, July 17: Indian badminton star Chirag Shetty shared some of the most emotional and memorable moments of his career. He stated that hearing “Jai Ho” play in the Hangzhou Arena, after winning the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games, stands out as one of the highlights of his life. With this victory, the duo of Chirag and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy became the world’s number one in men’s doubles.
In a recent podcast, Chirag revealed that his sole focus during the competition was on winning the gold medal. He mentioned that the news of becoming world number one was not as significant to him at that moment, as his primary goal was to secure the Asian Games title.
Chirag recalled battling influenza throughout the tournament. After the semifinals, their coach informed them that they had become the world’s number one pair. However, their main concern was winning the final. He emphasized that winning the Asian Games gold medal, along with becoming world number one, is one of the greatest achievements of their careers.
Reflecting on the celebrations post-final, Chirag said that as soon as victory was secured, the stadium resonated with the song “Jai Ho.” Hearing an Indian song on foreign soil was a moment of immense pride for him. He and Satwik began dancing on the court and tossed their T-shirts to the audience, celebrating this historic success. The experience of having your country’s song played in honor of you in another nation is indescribable.
The 27-year-old shuttler also shared that before the tournament, he was so unwell that he could barely walk due to a high fever. Despite this, he managed to pull through and win the gold medal for his country.
Chirag advised young athletes to enjoy the entire process rather than just chasing the final goal. He emphasized that hard work, discipline, and a continuous desire to learn are the keys to achieving great success.
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