The Indian men’s doubles duo defeated higher-ranked Malaysian and Chinese rivals to clinch their second World Championships bronze, keeping India’s medal streak alive since 2011.
Paris [France], September 2 – For Indian badminton, the recently concluded BWF World Championships 2025 in Paris became yet another chapter of resilience, redemption, and glory, thanks to the brilliance of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
The men’s doubles stars clinched the bronze medal, making it their second medal at the prestigious event after their 2022 bronze. With this, they etched their names as the only Indian pair to win multiple World Championships medals.
But this wasn’t just another podium finish — it was a story of grit and emotional redemption.
Beating the demons of Paris
In the quarterfinals, Satwik and Chirag defeated the second-seeded Malaysians Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 21-12, 21-19. For the Indians, it was more than just a win — it was sweet revenge, having lost to the same pair in last year’s Olympic heartbreak in Paris.
Earlier, in the round of 16, they had overcome another nemesis — the Chinese duo Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang — in a thrilling three-game battle (19-21, 21-15, 21-17). The Chinese pair had troubled them repeatedly in recent seasons, making this victory particularly meaningful.
“Those were very important wins for us,” Chirag Shetty told ANI. “We haven’t had the best head-to-head against either of them, but this time we were well prepared. Even when we were down, we believed we could fight back. Those two wins were truly special.”
A medal after tough times
For both players, the bronze came at a crucial time. The past year, marked by struggles both on and off the court, had tested their resilience.
“It’s been a really fruitful journey,” Chirag reflected. “Neither of us has had a really good time after the Olympics. It’s been tough, but this medal definitely makes it a lot better.”
Satwik echoed the sentiment, calling Paris 2025 “a great week to remember.”
“Winning the medal is special, but what made me happiest was that we finally played our A game again. It’s been a while since we enjoyed that kind of quality badminton.”
India’s unbroken streak continues
The bronze also extended India’s remarkable medal streak at the World Championships, which has remained unbroken since 2011.
From Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu in women’s singles to Kidambi Srikanth, B Sai Praneeth, Lakshya Sen, and HS Prannoy in men’s singles, India’s stars have consistently delivered on the global stage. Satwik and Chirag’s back-to-back doubles medals in 2022 and 2025 mark a new era for Indian badminton’s success story.
Looking ahead: India to host Worlds 2026
Adding to the celebrations, the BWF announced during the closing ceremony that the 2026 World Championships will be held in New Delhi, marking the tournament’s return to India after 17 years. The last time India hosted was in Hyderabad, 2009.
The handover ceremony saw BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, Federation Francaise de Badminton President Frank Laurent, and Badminton Association of India (BAI) General Secretary Sanjay Mishra formalize the announcement.
With Sindhu’s 2019 gold still shining bright, Nehwal’s past medals inspiring generations, and Satwik-Chirag rewriting history in doubles, Indian badminton looks well-poised to make the 2026 home edition even more memorable.