Chirag Shetty reveals how Satwiksairaj Rankireddy influenced his music playlist over a game of carrom

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Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, India's badminton doubles sensations, have taken the world by storm with their stellar performances, earning them the coveted title of the first Indian men's doubles pair to be ranked World No.1.

Their journey to the top has been filled with memorable moments, including their recent gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games and a bronze at the 2022 World Championship in Tokyo.

The duo, set to represent India at Paris 2024, recently shared their inspiring story and off-court camaraderie with Dinesh Karthik on JioCinema's 'Get Set Gold'.

Satwik-Chirag & love for music

During their candid conversation, Shetty revealed how Rankireddy influenced his music playlist, sharing a fascinating anecdote about how their love for music blossomed over a game of carrom. "Earlier, I used to listen to a lot of Punjabi music. But just before the Asian Games, Satwik made me listen to songs from Anirudh (Ravichander)," Shetty recounted.

Rankireddy further elaborated on their playlist sequence, "To begin with, there's 'Hukum', then Vikram's title track, and slowly we go into dance mode with 'Chaleya'. Chirag set the KGF background score as our entrance theme into the court."

How Coach Helped To Strengthen Their Bond

Their musical journey isn't just a footnote in their story; it symbolises the deep bond they've formed over the years, overcoming initial language barriers and forging a successful partnership. Chirag and Satwik's initial days together were challenging, with the former speaking Hindi and the latter more familiar with Telugu.

Their former coach, Kim Tan, saw potential in their pairing, predicting they could break into the Top 20. This foresight helped alleviate their initial apprehensions and allowed them to embrace their partnership.

Chirag spoke about how their partnership has evolved, saying, "Earlier, I used to feel burdened, it felt like someone is purposely making me play with him and it is against our will. We did not speak the same language and that also created a lot of barriers. I used to speak in Hindi, while Satwik was more familiar with Telugu.

"The then coach, Kim Tan, said that he felt that we would make a good pair as we had a good attack. He felt we could make it to the Top 20. This conversation made us feel less burdened and we felt like partnering with each other willingly. But now, it feels like our souls talk to each other in between the matches," he added further.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy on his World Record

Rankireddy, who holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest hit in badminton at a staggering 565 km/hr, shared insights into his famous smash. "I learned the smash from Volleyball, how players jump and smash. It looks like a heroic movement, and that is how I started learning my jump when I was young.

"Nobody taught me this, and I think the smash has achieved success somehow," he explained. His technique involves taking a peripheral view to sense the opponents' positions, a skill that has been honed through years of practice.

The duo also delved into the nuances of doubles play, emphasizing that the game is much more than just raw power. "When we talk about doubles, the game is not just about power. The game is a lot more about the defence, the net game, on how to get the lift right. Defence is another important part of the game," Shetty noted.

They shared their rigorous workout regimes and the drills they perform to perfect their defence and develop muscle memory, highlighting the intricate strategies involved in high-level doubles badminton.

Indian Doubles Duo Eyes Olympic Glory

Shetty and Rankireddy are currently ranked third in the men's doubles and are strong contenders for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Their remarkable achievements over the past two years, including gold medals at the 2022 Asian Games and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, along with accolades at the 2022 World Championships, 2022 Thomas Cup, and 2023 Asian Championship, underscore their dominance in the sport.

Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy exemplify the spirit of teamwork as they will eye for a podium finish in the upcoming Paris Olympics. Their story is a testament to the idea that success in sports is not just about individual talent but also about the harmony and understanding between teammates.