New Delhi, September 17 (Daily Kiran) : Indian badminton star Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy revealed that he and his doubles partner Chirag Shetty have mastered the art of controlling their emotions on the court. Instead of getting frustrated with mistakes during matches, they focus on moving forward quickly.
In a media interaction ahead of the Asian Games, Satwik was asked about who tends to get angrier after losing a point. He explained that his perspective has shifted over the years. “No, neither of us gets angry quickly. We adapt to the situation. In the past, I would react immediately if either of us made a mistake. But now, I try not to react too much. It’s just one point; we concentrate on the next one,” he stated.
The Indian shuttler emphasized the importance of avoiding expressions of frustration towards his partner, as it could disrupt their rhythm. “It has become a mental thing. When you show emotions in front of your partner, it affects the synergy. So, we focus on the next point. We have never shown anger on the court; we just concentrate on what comes next,” he added.
Satwik mentioned that even after a loss, they maintain this mindset, preferring to look forward rather than dwell on past matches. “There are many points in a game. After a loss, we always say, ‘Yes, we will play next time.’ We just focus on the next match,” he explained. Following their memorable victory in Hangzhou in 2022, the duo is now gearing up to defend their gold medal in men’s doubles at the Asian Games.
Reflecting on their previous Asian Games experience, Satwik recalled the excitement surrounding the finals, which left both him and Chirag unable to sleep the night before. “I still remember that night before the finals; neither Chirag nor I could sleep well. Around 1:30 AM, I got up for water and heard Chirag in his room, telling himself to at least get a few hours of sleep,” he recounted.
The next morning, Satwik asked Chirag if he had managed to sleep, to which Chirag replied he hadn’t either. “So, I think we both struggled to get any rest that night,” he said. He noted that this tournament became one of the biggest moments of their careers, having participated in the team event before the individual matches.
“At that time, I didn’t realize how significant it was, but now I understand what a fantastic moment it was. For me, when I win there, that day feels like a victory. The next day is just normal. However, if we look back and talk about those moments, it gives me goosebumps,” he reflected.
Satwik still recalls the national anthem playing after their victory at the Asian Games in China, calling it one of the biggest achievements. “I don’t think anyone even dreamed that badminton doubles would win at the Asian Games,” he noted. Confident after winning the men’s doubles title at the China Masters, Satwik and Chirag are set to make their mark at the Asian Games, hoping to build on their success as the world’s fifth-ranked pair.
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