"They Are Our Main Medal Hopes": Leroy D'Sa Backs Satwik-Chirag Despite Scratchy Form Before World Championships

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have long carried India's hopes in men's doubles, establishing themselves as one of the country's most successful badminton pairs in recent years. As the countdown to the BWF World Championships and the Asian Games gathers pace, the duo appeared to be finding their rhythm with a string of encouraging performances. Their experience, attacking style, and consistency have made them genuine contenders for medals on the biggest stages, raising expectations among Indian badminton fans.

Just as their preparations seemed to be falling into place, an old concern resurfaced. Satwik's recurring shoulder injury flared up once again, forcing the pair to retire from their latest tournament and casting fresh doubt over their immediate plans. The setback has reignited questions about their fitness and ability to compete at full strength during a crucial phase of the season. With two marquee events approaching, the focus has now shifted from form to recovery, as India waits to see whether its star men's doubles combination can return fit and ready to challenge for major honours.

But do their recent performances tell the full story, or do India's 'Smash Brothers' still have another gear waiting to be unleashed? To understand the situation of men's doubles, myKhel spoke to former Indian men's doubles player Leroy Francis D' Sa.

'They Have Just Lost Two Finals'- D' Sa Backs SatChi For Strong Finish

When asked about the performance of Satwik & Chirag, the former international badminton star remarked that it is too early to judge. "They have just lost in two finals. This clearly indicates that they are there. They are our main medal hopes. And if they are able to be injury-free, I am very confident that they will win a medal at this World Championship."

D'Sa also praised India's emerging men's doubles combination of MR Arjun and H. Amsakarunan, saying the pair has begun to show encouraging signs after a difficult phase. He admitted that they had been disappointed by their inconsistent performances earlier, but now the times are changing for good for the pair.

"I'm very happy that our second pair has also started doing well. MR Arjun and his partner are now showing very good promise. I was a little disappointed that they had not been doing very well. But they have proved me wrong, and they have started doing very well once again. Which is a very, very great sign for Indian doubles. That we have two combinations now that are capable of winning matches for the team."

How Have Tactics Changed In Men's Doubles?

Speaking about tactics, D'Sa believes the biggest transformation in India's top men's doubles pair has been their tactical maturity. He credited the duo's development to the guidance of some of the world's best coaches, saying their game has evolved beyond relying solely on their natural strengths.

"Earlier, they used to play mainly to their strengths, and opponents eventually figured out ways to exploit them," D'Sa said. "Now they have become much more solid and are not giving rivals easy opportunities to target their weaknesses."

According to him, the pair has also become more patient and disciplined in rallies. Rather than forcing winners, they are willing to keep the shuttle in play until the right opening appears. "If they are not able to score points, they are at least not giving away points," he explained, adding that this defensive resilience makes them far more difficult to break down. Confident in their progress and the advantage of playing in familiar conditions, D'Sa backed the Indian duo as his favourites to lift the BWF World Championships title.

Any Room For Improvement?

While their preparation has been comprehensive, there remains room to elevate their game further. When asked about the room for improvement, Leroy D' Sa remarked that the Indian shuttlers who are going to take part will have to make sure that there are no 'cracks' in the game.

"They have to make sure that they do not show cracks in their game. They have to make sure that their game is rock solid. The other players are also going to be training," he added.

D'Sa pointed out that India's rivals will be equally well prepared and fully aware of the strengths of Indian men's doubles players. "The opponents also know the plus points of these players, and they will be preparing accordingly," he said.

He stressed that this should serve as a reminder for the Indian duo to keep tightening their game and avoid exposing any vulnerabilities. According to D'Sa, the key will be ensuring that opponents are not given any opportunity to exploit their weaknesses during crucial matches.