Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty Begin Paris Olympics Campaign with Convincing Win Over French Rivals

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Indian badminton pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty kicked off their Paris Olympics 2024 journey with a commanding victory, defeating France's Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar in straight sets in the Group C. Follow our elaborated Paris Olympics coverage

They secured the first game 21-17 after a tightly contested 23 minutes. The French pair initially took the lead, but Rankireddy and Shetty quickly found their rhythm. A series of powerful smashes and deft serves helped them establish and maintain their advantage, with Satwik's return ultimately drifting wide to end the first game.

The second game started with Chirag serving, and although he conceded the first point by hitting the shuttlecock into the net, the Indians quickly recovered. They built a three-point lead with impressive defensive play, forcing errors from their opponents. The Frenchmen managed to close the gap at times, but the Indian pair's resilience and skill kept them ahead.

As the game progressed, Rankireddy and Shetty extended their lead to six points, thanks to a combination of quick reflexes and well-placed smashes. Despite some good play from the Frenchmen, including a powerful cross-court smash by Corvee, the Indians maintained their composure. They went into the mid-game interval with an 11-8 lead after Corvee's block at the net fell short.

Post interval, the Indian duo continued to dominate. They restored their six-point lead with strategic plays near the net, forcing their opponents to make mistakes. Labar's cross-court shot hitting the net at 19-14 brought the Indians closer to victory. The match concluded with Rankireddy and Shetty winning the second game 21-14, following another error from the French pair.

Despite a few moments of pressure from the French duo, Rankireddy and Shetty's superior net play and strategic positioning proved too strong for their opponents. The Indians established an early lead and never looked back, with Chirag's deceptive serves and Satwik's powerful smashes being the highlights.

With this win, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have made a strong start to their Olympic campaign. They will be looking to carry this momentum forward as they advance in the tournament, aiming for a medal for India.

Who will Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty play next?

Looking ahead, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will face the German duo of Mark Lamsfuss and Marvin Seidel in their next match. Ranked 31st in men's doubles, the German pair are coming into this game on the back of a 13-21, 17-21 loss against Indonesia's Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto.

With Rankireddy and Shetty ranked World No. 3, the Indian duo will be looking to continue their winning momentum and secure another victory