‘My Shoulder Is Ready to Go’: Satwik Rankireddy Primed for Asian Games Gold Medal Defence

New Delhi, September 17: Defending Asian Games gold medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will have their eyes on another gold medal when they begin their campaign at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in Aichi-Nagoya.

Ahead of the Asian Games, Satwik looked back at their memorable Hangzhou triumph, recalling the sleepless night before the final.

"I still remember the night before the finals. Me and Chirag couldn't sleep, actually. So around 1.30 or so, I woke up for water. Then I heard a sound in Chirag's room," he said.

"The next morning I asked Chirag, 'Shetty bhai, tu bhi soya nahi kya?' Then he also said, 'No, I also didn't sleep.' I think we couldn't sleep the night before. I was feeling excitement, butterflies."

As the pair prepare to defend their title, Satwik's fitness remains a key factor after he spent the last two months recovering from a shoulder injury. Their recent China Open campaign, where they played five matches, gave him confidence that he is ready for the challenge.

'My Shoulder Is Ready to Go'

"I've been doing rehab a lot in the last two months because I was injured. I think China Open gave us a lot of confidence. I'm in good shape. There's no need to panic," Satwik said.

The Asian Games will provide a different physical test, with badminton spread across around 10 days and players involved in both team and individual events.

"You need to be fit enough for this long tournament. We generally play for only five days or so. But it's a 10-day tournament. There will be a lot of travelling. There will be a lot of sitting in the team event matches. You need to manage your body," he said.

With his shoulder feeling good, Satwik believes he can bring an extra edge to his game.
"As I said, my shoulder is also ready to go. To give a little bit more than 100%. That X factor may be coming in this tournament."

With fitness no longer a major concern, Satwik and Chirag can focus on handling the expectations that come with being defending champions.

SatChi Looking At Asiad Like Fresh Tournament

Despite entering as defending champions, Satwik said he and Chirag will treat the tournament as a fresh challenge.

"Obviously, responsibility is there. But for me and Chirag, it's always a fresh tournament. All these tournaments, I feel like I'm playing for the first time," he said.

The Indian shuttler also spoke about the emotion of representing the country, saying receiving the Asian Games kit brought back the excitement he felt as a young athlete.
"I became like a child who dreamt of wearing those Indian colours," Satwik said. "Even my mom started crying. I also started crying. I hugged her. It's a special feeling."

That emotional connection will provide motivation, but Satwik also knows that their campaign will depend heavily on the chemistry that has made their partnership one of the most successful in Indian badminton.

Chirag's 'Fearless' Approach a Key Part of Partnership

Satwik highlighted Chirag's fearless approach as one of the biggest strengths of their partnership.

"With the bigger tournaments, I think you need to have that X factor, which is fearless. Chirag has that fearless character in his game," he said.

While Satwik tends to be more calculated, Chirag is willing to take risks immediately. Their understanding and communication help them complement each other on court.

"You need that special bond, understanding. If you're not feeling well, then you need to cover up. You need to communicate well," Satwik said.

That chemistry will be crucial during a long tournament, particularly because the pair have often found their biggest challenge away from the court.

'Our Body Is the Enemy'

Satwik said the pair are not worried about their leading rivals, having both beaten and been pushed by the world's best. Instead, injuries remain their biggest concern.

"We are not afraid of anyone. Me and Chirag, we gave them sleepless nights as well. They gave us sleepless nights as well," he said.

"But for us, I feel we are the enemies for us. Because our bodies don't support us. Because we play a lot of aggressive games."

Repeated injuries have forced the pair to miss tournaments and affected their ability to remain at the top of the world rankings.

"If we are in good shape, we would have been holding that number one position for a longer time. Because we have to skip all the tournaments. We have to keep getting injured. We have to recover from all the tournaments," Satwik said.

With his shoulder back in shape and confidence boosted by the China Open, Satwik and Chirag will now look to stay healthy, trust their partnership and make another strong push for Asian Games gold.